Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka will miss South Africa’s one-off T20 against Namibia on 11 October and the forthcoming white-ball trip to Pakistan after scans confirmed a grade-one-to-two hamstring injury.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) said, “subsequent scans and medical assessments revealed a grade 1-2 injury, and he will undergo rehabilitation over the next four weeks”. The 18-year-old left-armer picked up the problem while turning out for the Lions against Western Province at Newlands last week. He managed just 5.5 overs in the first innings before leaving the field, but returned later to claim 3 for 26 with the new ball, helping the Lions to an innings-and-134-run win.
The initial scan suggested nothing serious, yet follow-up tests told a different story. CSA’s medical staff decided the risk of aggravating the injury outweighed any short-term gain, especially with a long season still ahead.
Replacement options
Ottneil Baartman, impressive for the Dolphins last season, steps into the T20 squad for both the Windhoek fixture and the three-match Pakistan series starting on 28 October. Lizaad Williams, already listed for the T20s, now joins the ODI party that follows in early November.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt believes the switch is seamless. “Ottneil’s skills at the death are well known to us, and Lizaad offers control with the new ball,” he said before Wednesday’s training session in Johannesburg.
Schedule in brief
South Africa open their Pakistan tour with two Tests from 12 October. The three T20Is follow, then three ODIs wrap up the visit by 8 November. With workloads already a talking point, the medical team were keen to avoid gambling on a teenager who has barely missed a first-class session since making his debut last summer.
Why the caution?
Hamstrings can be fickle. A mild strain can turn into something far more troublesome if pushed too soon, and left-arm pace is a precious commodity for the Proteas. Analyst Prasanna Agoram summed it up neatly: “You lose a young fast bowler for a month now, or you risk losing him for the season. It’s a straightforward call.”
Squads in full
Namibia T20I
Donovan Ferreira (capt), Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman
Pakistan T20Is
David Miller (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman
Pakistan ODIs
Matthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile
What’s next for Maphaka?
Provided rehab goes to plan, the youngster could be back bowling by mid-November, just in time for the early rounds of the domestic four-day competition. He can then press for a return when India visit later in the summer. For now, patience is the watchword.
There is, at least, consolation in the depth of South Africa’s pace stocks. Yet losing a left-arm option so early in the tour is hardly ideal, and the management will hope Maphaka’s enforced rest proves a blessing rather than a setback.
