Huge blow for South Africa as Anrich Nortje ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a back injury

Anrich Nortje hasn’t played international cricket since the T20 World Cup 2024.

South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje will miss the ongoing SA20 and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 owing to a back injury.

This was confirmed on Wednesday, just a couple of days after Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced their 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy, which will be played from February 19 to March 9 across Pakistan and Dubai.

Nortje has been plagued with injuries in recent years and missed key tournaments and series, including the ICC World Cup 2023 in India. Previously, he missed the 2019 World Cup due to a broken thumb.

He last played ODI cricket in September 2023 but returned to play in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where he helped South Africa reach the final, which they lost to India.

Nortje was due to make his return to international cricket in the recently-concluded white-ball series against Pakistan at home but injured his toe in the nets.

He had not played a single game for the Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 2025 before being ruled out entirely.

A  CSA statement said that Nortje had undergone scans on Monday and “is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.”

Nortje’s injury is a massive blow to the Proteas as the paceman is one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in the world. His high pace and back-of-length deliveries would have been crucial on docile pitches in Pakistan.

Who has replaced Anrich Nortje in South Africa’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad?

So far, South Africa have not named Nortje’s replacement. Fast bowling all-rounder Gerald Coetzee seems the likeliest option to replace Nortje. Coetzee had left a huge impression during the World Cup 2023 in India.

South Africa group stage schedule at ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

21 February – South Africa vs Afghanistan, Karachi

25 February – South Africa vs Australia, Rawalpindi

1 March – South Africa vs England, Karachi

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