Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face a pressing concern ahead of the upcoming season (IPL 2025) with a foreign star setting the pace due to a broken finger. of the foot.

Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who was bought by the three-time winners in last month’s IPL 2025 auction for INR 6.5 crore, will now miss the ongoing T20I series and the upcoming ODI series of three matches against Pakistan.

The 31-year-old had to miss the series opener yesterday (December 11) because he injured the big toe on his left foot while training before the match. Later, further scans showed that the player had fractured the toe on his left foot.

Meanwhile, Nortje has not represented South Africa since the 2024 T20 World Cup final in early June, where he was his team’s top wicket-taker with 15 wickets. He also decided to resign from a national contract with South Africa due to concerns about managing his workload.

Anrich Nortje joins long list of injured Proteas pacers

Nortje’s injury worsened the South Africa fast bowler’s crisis as he became the fifth player to be sidelined due to injury. Gerald Coetzee is dealing with a groin problem, while Nandre Burger is recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back. Lungi Ngidi is recovering from a hip injury and Wiaan Mulder, who was ruled out after the first Test against Sri Lanka, is out with a broken finger.

The SA vs PAK ODI series is scheduled to begin on December 17, just three days after the conclusion of the T20I matches.

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Notably, this series will be South Africa’s last bilateral series before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They will also face Pakistan and New Zealand in a tri-series, although this will take place near the end of the third season of the SA20 next year.

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