South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against India and the upcoming T20 World Cup with an injury, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday, ahead of the first ODI. He has sustained a fracture to his left thumb and hence will not be taking part in the team’s future assignments.
“All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against India and the proceeding ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to a fracture of his left thumb,” CSA announced on Thursday. The board has not named any replacement for Pretorius so far in the T20 World Cup squad.
However, Marco Jansen has been added to South Africa's ODI squad. Jansen is also part of the three-man reserves' list for the T20 World Cup, along with Andile Phehlukwayo and Bjorn Fortuin, and could be the frontrunner to replace Pretorius in that squad as well.
It's reported that Pretorius picked up the injury during the third T20I against India on Tuesday (4 October) in Indore. "The nature of the injury requires surgical intervention and Dwaine will consult the Cricket South Africa designated hand surgeon on arrival in South Africa," CSA chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo. "Normal rehabilitation procedures will follow to ensure he speedily returns to playing cricket."
This is the second major injury blow for South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup as Rassie van der Dussen was ruled out of the tournament with a broken finger. Van der Dussen sustained the injury during the second Test against England in Manchester and is expected to return to fitness for the Tests against Australia in December.