Keshav Maharaj Injury Blow: Ruled Out of Pakistan ODI Series

Keshav Maharaj Injury: Currently, a three-match ODI series is being played between South Africa and Pakistan. In the first ODI match played between these two teams, Pakistan defeated South Africa by three wickets. Now the second ODI match between the two teams will be played today i.e. 19 December in Cape Town

Keshav Maharaj Ruled Out of ODI Series Due to Injury

However, before the second ODI match, hosts South Africa suffered a major blow. The best spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs due to injury.

Let it be known that Keshav Maharaj was included in the playing XI of the first ODI but he got injured while warming up and due to this he could not participate in this match.

Bjorn Fortuin Replaces Injured Keshav Maharaj

After the scan, it is revealed that the injury is quite serious and due to this, the brilliant spinner will not be able to participate in the remaining two Tests. For these two matches, South Africa has included Bjorn Fortuin in the team as a replacement for Keshav Maharaj.

South Africa Looks to Bounce Back in Cape Town

In the first match, South Africa scored 239 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs while batting first. On behalf of the team, Dhuandhar wicketkeeper-batsman Henrik Klaasen played a blistering inning of 86 runs with the help of 7 fours and two sixes.

However, the brilliant players failed to lead their team to victory. From Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha took four wickets for 32 runs in 8 overs and destroyed the South African batting line-up.

In reply, Pakistan won the target by three wickets. On behalf of the team, the young opener Saim Ayub played a match-winning innings of 109 runs while batting with a bang. Not only this, Salman Ali Agha also performed brilliantly with the bat and contributed 82* runs.

Now, in the second ODI to be played between these two teams, South Africa will definitely want to make a name for themselves by putting on a great performance. Even though Keshav Maharaj did not participate in the first ODI, his lesser host will surely suffer in the remaining two matches.

SA vs PAK: Probable Playing XIs

South Africa Probable XI:

Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Pakistan Probable XI:

Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Kamran Ghulam, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.