South Africa’s Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy with a back injury, the latest in a long line of setbacks for the fast bowler.

South Africa have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the Champions Trophy after Anrich Nortje was ruled out with a back injury. Nortje has not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup last June and was due to make a return for the white-ball series against Pakistan but broke his toe in the nets.

The hosts Pakistan and India are surprisingly the only two teams left who have yet to announce their squads for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Injuries to Saim Ayub and Jasprit Bumrah, respectively, are likely hampering their decisions, but with the ICC deadline just days away both need to be velocious with their decision.

South Africa picked an experienced 15-man squad for next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan with 10 players having competed at the last World Cup in India in late 2023. Temba Bavuma captains the side that plays pool games against Afghanistan in Karachi on Feb.