PAARL: South Africa suffered a potential setback ahead of their high-stakes two-match Test series against Pakistan as left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj sustained a groin strain, international media reported on Tuesday.
According to a report, Maharaj sustained the potential injury during the home team’s warm-ups for the ongoing ODI series opener against Pakistan.
Report further suggested that the left-arm spinner was a part of South Africa’s playing XI for the ongoing fixture but his timely injury forced the hosts to replace him with Andile Phehlukwayo.
Maharaj is a key part of South Africa’s Test side as he often serves as their lone specialist spinner in the playing XI, with Aiden Markram playing a supporting role with his part-time off-spin.
While the severity of Maharaj’s injury is yet to be assessed, it adds to the injury woes of the Proteas, who have lost several key players, including Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, and Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder.
Notably, Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthusamy are the two spinners in contention for the Boxing Day Test, if Keshav Maharaj does not recover ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
Meanwhile, Mulder, who suffered a broken finger during the recently-concluded home series against Sri Lanka, is in race to be fit for the Boxing Day Test against the green shirts.
For the unversed, the upcoming series against Pakistan is crucial for South Africa as they need just one more victory to secure their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
