South Africa has suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the seasoned speedster Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the 50-over tournament due to a troubling back injury. Nortje has not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup 2024 final in June last year, and his comeback plans have been hit by the unfortunate setbacks.
Anrich Nortje had planned to return to action for South Africa’s recent white-ball series against Pakistan. However, the fast bowler’s hopes were dashed when a crushing yorker from teammate David Miller fractured his toe during a net session.
The fiery pacer, who is known for his express pace, opted out of the 2024/25 Test season with an aim to save his injury-prone body to flourish his franchise career and white-ball career with the Proteas side. But this move has not also worked for him.
Big blow for South Africa as Anrich Nortje ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Notably, Nortje has not taken any part in the ongoing SA20 2025 for Pretoria Capitals. The star pacer was last seen in action on December 2 in the Abu Dhabi T10. Despite missing a lot of cricket, Cricket South Africa (CSA) had named Nortje the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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However, just over 48 hours later, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced that Anrich Nortje was ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 to be held in Pakistan and Dubai (India matches). The CSA said that Nortje had undergone scans on Monday (January 13) afternoon, and he is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.
Cricket South Africa said in a press release that Nortje “underwent scans that revealed the extent of the injury. He is not expected to recover in time” to play in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, where South Africa will begin its campaign against Afghanistan in Karachi on February 21.
Anrich Nortje set to miss ICC ODI tournament for the third time
Anrich Nortje has been forced to miss the ICC ODI tournament due to injury for the unfortunate third time. Despite being one of the fastest and most feared bowlers in the world, the Proteas star is yet to showcase his skills in a 50-over ICC tournament.
He was ruled out of the 2019 World Cup due to a thumb injury, and history repeated itself ahead of the 2023 World Cup, as a suspected stress fracture in his lower back forced him to miss the 50-over tournament in India. Now, Nortje’s 2025 Champions Trophy dreams have also been shattered due to the back injury.
However, Nortje’s story in T20 World Cups has been different, as the Proteas pacer was able to feature in all three ICC events—2021, 2022, and 2024—and was sensational for the South African side with the ball.
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Gerald Coetzee likely to replace Nortje in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad
Meanwhile, the CSA said in the press release that Nortje’s replacement would be named “in due course.” However, Gerald Coetzee is almost certain to be called up as Nortje’s replacement for the upcoming eight-nation event.
South Africa’s white-ball coach and sole selector, Rob Walter, revealed that he had to pick between Nortje and Coetzee, and he went with the senior bowler’s experience with the hope of him being declared fit in time for the prestigious tournament.