*ISLAMABAD – South Africa faces a major blow ahead of the crucial Testencounter against Pakistan.*
*The Proteas would be without their fast bowler Vernon Philander as theyface Pakistan in the first Test on 26 December Boxing Day, after thebowling all-rounder sustained a hand injury.*
The 33-year-old becomes the latest in line to join the injury list, afteranother fast bowler Lungi Ngidi was reported to be out of action untilFebruary due to a knee injury, South Africa is left with just three paceoptions in the form of Duanne Olivier, Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn.
“I really don’t even want to think about what would happen should there beanother injury,” said South Africa coach Ottis Gibson, quoted *ESPNcricinfo*.
“If you look at where we are, Steyn, Rabada and Olivier become veryimportant to us. We just want to manage them as best we can. We’ve seen howDale’s been going