South Africa has revealed their team for the Champions Trophy 2025, with Temba Bavuma as the captain. Bavuma has had a great record so far, and under his leadership, South Africa did well in the last T20 World Cup, making it to the final.
They also reached the final of the World Test Championship (WTC), which will be held at Lord’s in June 2025. Now, the team is all set for the Champions Trophy. South Africa will start their Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan on February 21 in Karachi.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced that fast bowler Anrich Nortje will not play in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 because of a back injury. Nortje, an important player in South Africa’s bowling team, had scans earlier this week that showed how serious the injury is. Although he was originally part of the squad, the medical check-up found that Nortje would not be ready for the tournament.
A release said “Nortje underwent scans on Monday afternoon which revealed the extent of the injury. He is not expected to recover in time to play in the Champions Trophy.”
Wishing our speedster a speedy and full recovery. 💪
We'll miss your electric pace this season, but we're all behind you, Anrich! 🩵#RoarSaamMore #BetwaySA20 #PCvSEC pic.twitter.com/VcsRgAspk5
— Pretoria Capitals (@PretoriaCapsSA) January 15, 2025
The star fast bowler has not played for South Africa since the T20 World Cup final in June 2024. His last game was in the Abu Dhabi T10 on December 2. He has been dealing with fitness problems, which have kept him from playing regularly at the top level.
Nortje chose to skip Test cricket for the 2024/25 season to focus on white-ball cricket and his franchise work, showing how difficult it has been for him to stay fit for the demands of the game.
He was ready to make a big impact in the Champions Trophy, but this injury is another setback in his ongoing battle with fitness issues. It’s also worth mentioning that he has never played in an ODI World Cup, as he missed both the 2019 and 2023 tournaments because of injuries.
Although Nortje’s absence is a setback for South Africa, Gerald Coetzee will likely replace him. Coetzee, who showed great form during the 2023 World Cup, just missed out on the original selection because of Nortje. South Africa’s coach, Rob Walter, had previously mentioned the strengths of both bowlers, pointing out Nortje’s experience and speed.
Read more: Which Team Has Won Most Champions Trophy Titles?
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
