Johannesburg – With the cricket World Cup less than four weeks away, SouthAfrica’s pace attack is under an injury cloud with fast bowler KagisoRabada the latest concern.
South African team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement on Fridaythat he had recalled Rabada from India where he is starring for DelhiCapitals in the IPL.
Rabada had been experiencing stiffness in his lower back and Moosajee, whodoubles as the team doctor, said that the recall was precautionary butnecessary in view of Rabada’s history of back injuries — he sustained astress fracture last year.
South Africa has picked a potent four-man pace battery for the World Cup– but all four have been under injury watch in the build-up to thetournament in England and Wales.
Dale Steyn also returned early from the IPL after a flare-up of a shoulderinjury, while Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje were both forced to misslucrative stints in India because of a side strain and shoulder injuryrespectively.
Both Ngidi and Nortje have returned to low-key action ahead of SouthAfrica’s pre-World Cup camp on May 12.
There has been no official word on Steyn’s recovery but the fast bowlerseemed in good spirits when he posted an Instagram picture of himself withhis dog on a Cape Town mountain on Thursday.
Rabada is the leading wicket-taker in the IPL this year with 25 wickets in12 matches for Delhi Capitals.
His stint in the IPL followed a heavy international season for SouthAfrica in which he played in all five of his country’s Test matches and 14of 16 one-day internationals. He also played in two Twenty20 internationals.
Moosajee said Rabada had scans in Delhi. South African team physiotherapistCraig Govender, who was in Delhi, made an assessment and the decision wasmade to recall him for the remainder of the IPL.
“Kagiso has a history with back injuries and the CSA medical team istaking the best measures to ensure he is fully fit for the World Cup,”Moosajee added.
South Africa play hosts England in the first match of the World Cup at TheOval on May 30. -APP/AFP