South Africa’s Maharaj ruled out for rest of Pakistan ODI series

South Africa’s first choice spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remaining two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan and is a doubt for the crucial two-match Test home series against the sub-continent side that starts on December 26.

Maharaj, who was included in the playing XI for the series opener on December 17, sustained an injury during the warm-up and was unable to participate in the match.

He has a left adductor strain and will miss the 50-over fixtures in Cape Town on Thursday and Johannesburg on Sunday, but of much greater concern will be the 34-year-old’s availability for the Test series.

All-rounder Bjorn Fortuin has been named as his replacement for the final two ODIs.

According to a CSA statement, Maharaj will head back to Durban for rehabilitation and will undergo evaluation before the opening Test in Centurion.

South Africa is at top of the World Test Championship table and need victory in one of their two remaining matches against Pakistan to guarantee a place at the Lord’s final in June next year.

Should Maharaj be unavailable, the only specialist spinner in the Test squad is the less experienced Senuran Muthusamy.