 "Bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch made his ODI debut against Pakistan in Johannesburg. AFP")
South Africa have made a change to their Champions Trophy squad four days before the final deadline set by the ICC, naming all-rounder Corbin Bosch as the replacement for injured pacer Anrich Nortje on Sunday. The Proteas have also included young pacer Kwena Maphaka as a traveling reserve for the ninth edition of the ‘Mini World Cup’ that gets underway 10 days from now.
Nortje has not played international cricket since the T20 World Cup in June last year, in which South Africa had finished runners-up after a narrow defeat in the final against India in Barbados. He was set to make his return for South Africa in the ICC event, only to be sidelined once again with a back injury that ensured he spends more time in rehab.
Also Read | List of big-name players who have been ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025
Bowling all-rounder Bosch had made his ODI debut against Pakistan in December, registering figures of 1/69 from 9 overs in the third and final ODI in Johannesburg. He would then feature in the two-match Test series against the same team, collecting 4/63 and 1/54 on debut in Centurion.
The Proteas, who had won the inaugural Champions Trophy (then known as the ICC KnockOut Tournament) in 1998, had also been considering Gerald Coetzee as a like-for-like replacement for Nortje. Coetzee, who was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023 ICC World Cup in India, had not been officially included by the squad but had been picked for the ODI triangular series in Pakistan which also features New Zealand.
Coetzee, however, has been ruled out out of the Pakistan tri-series as well as the Champions Trophy after experiencing tightness in his groin while bowling in Pretoria’s Centre of Excellence on Wednesday, according to ESPNCricinfo. Fitness issues had also restricted Coetzee’s appearances in the recently-concluded SA20 to just one appearance.
South Africa Champions Trophy squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, and Rassie van der Dussen. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka