Big blow to South Africa! David Miller, Coetzee ruled out of Pakistan series due to injury

David Miller and Gerald Coetzee for South Africa (AFP)

South Africa have levelled the Test series in the first leg of the Pakistan tour, and now the action shifts to the white-ball formats. However, now South Africa have been handed a big blow with the stand-in T20I captain David Miller ruled out of the series.

According to the official update from Cricket South Africa, David Miller suffered a hamstring strain while training and scans have revealed a grade one tear. Thus, the 36-year-old will miss the Pakistan series and would now be hoping to get fit in time for the India tour. In the absence of David Miller, Donovan Ferreira will lead the T20I side.

Gerald Coetzee continues his tryst with injuries; replacement named

Along with David Miller, Gerald Coetzee has also been ruled out of both the ODI and T20I series. The fast bowler suffered a pectoral muscle injury during the one-off game against Namibia and would have to go under rehabilitation once again. Thus, South Africa have added Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke to their T20I Squad while Ottneil Baartman has been named in the ODI team as a replacement for Gerald Coetzee.

Thus, South Africa will be without many of their regulars in both ODI and T20I series. Aiden Markram, the regular T20I captain, has not been named in the white-ball squads, while Temba Bavuma, too, is not in the ODI team. Therefore, the series is a good opportunity for the Proteas to test out their bench-strength in the white-ball formats and build towards the T20I World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027. Quinton de Kock is also set to return to ODI cricket after taking back his retirement, and it promises to be an interesting series between two quality teams.

The three-match T20I series will start on October 28, while the ODI leg will begin on November 4. 

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