South African pacer Anrich Nortje has been ruled out for an indefinite period of time due to a  "stress reaction" ahead of the tri-series in Zimbabwe.
The development was confirmed by Protead Head Coach Shukri Conrad ahead of the start of the tri-series. South Africa are scheduled to play a tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Harare starting from July 14. The final will be played on July 26.
Nortje was supposed to play for the LA Knight Riders in the ongoing MLC 2025 after having played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025.
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We Are Worried - Shukri Conrad On Anrich Nortje
Head coach Shukri Conrad, after confirming Nortje's injury status, also confirmed that Cricket South Africa is unsure about how long it will need for the pacer to recover from the injury. He is no longer a centrally contracted player for South Africa. Whether he will be able to play all three formats when he returns is also unknown.
"We will have to see the length of the time that he will be out and the extent of the injury. I really feel for him. He is a superstar fast bowler and having to deal with setback after setback can't be easy. We will wait to see how serious it is" Conrad said.
The South African head coach also said that it is Nortje's third stress reaction and the team will give him the time he needs to recover and make a comeback.
"Naturally we are worried. In Anrich's case this is the second or third stress reaction in his back. It is too early to make a diagnosis and we are definitely not drawing a line through this name. He is 31 years old and we are going to give him every chance to come back. We will have to see what the medical team think is the best way forward" Shukri emphasised.
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Rassie Van der Dussen To Lead SA In Tri-Series
South Africa will be led by Rassie Van der Dussen in the tri-series in Harare. The board has named a young side with the senior players rested after their recent WTC title win. Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks and Lungi Ngidi are part of an otherwise young side. The South Africa head coach further admitted that the T20I series marks the start of the team's preparations for next year's T20 World Cup.
"This T20I tri-series marks the start of our preparation for next year's T20 World Cup. With several senior players rested as part of their workload management, it creates space for these players to step in and show what they can offer, and bring them into contention for World Cup selection" Conrad said.
South Africa T20I Squad For Tri-Series
Rassie van der Dussen (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane
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