Gerald Coetzee Out of icc champions trophy 2025 schedule
The absence of Coetzee and the inclusion of new players will be closely watched, as South Africa looks to make a strong impression in the tri-series and the Champions Trophy, with the team's chances of success dependent on the performances of its young and inexperienced players, particularly in the bowling department.
South Africa's pacer Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of the ODI tri-series in Pakistan and the upcoming Champions Trophy due to a groin issue, his second groin injury this season, which was diagnosed after experiencing tightness during a training session.
The medical team assessed that a higher bowling load in 50-over matches would increase the risk of significant injury, leading to Coetzee's withdrawal from the tournament. He was set to replace Anrich Nortje in the Champions Trophy squad but will now miss out, dealing a blow to the South African team's preparations.
The South African team is expected to announce a replacement for Coetzee shortly, with Corbin Bosch or Lutho Sipamla likely to take his place. The first ODI squad features six uncapped players, including Matthew Breetzke, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Jason Smith, and Kyle Verreynne, as the team looks to blood new talent in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy.
The squad will be further reduced to 11 for the first ODI against New Zealand, as the team fine-tunes its preparations for the icc champions trophy 2025 schedule, with a strong performance in the tri-series crucial for building momentum ahead of the major tournament.
