South Africa’s star batsman Hashim Amla has been ruled out and paceman Dale Steyn will undergo a fitness test ahead of the second Test against Pakistan starting on Wednesday.
Amla, 30, last week returned home to be with his wife for the birth of couple’s second child.
South Africa’s team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Amla would not be available for the match while Steyn will undergo a fitness test after suffering a hamstring injury on Sunday.
“Unfortunately Hashim’s wife hasn’t given birth yet so he won’t be playing the second Test,” said Moosajee of Amla, who hit 118 in the seven-wicket loss in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week.
Moosajee said scans on Steyn’s injury were not serious.
“Initially we thought it was a strain but fortunately the MRI scans revealed that there is no major pathology but he has to undergo a fitness test, which takes place either Tuesday or early Wednesday,” he said.
Steyn, ranked the No.1 bowler in Test cricket, took four wickets in the first Test.
Meanwhile South Africa’s cricket board suspended new chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Tuesday pending an ICC inquiry into his conduct, and agreed to a shortened home series against India.
Both decisions were taken under pressure from Indian cricket bosses, Lorgat to be investigated over his role in recent comments made by a former legal adviser to the world body that was critical of the BCCI and its leadership.
In a joint BCCI-CSA statement, the boards said Lorgat, who was appointed by CSA in July despite heavy Indian opposition, had been withdrawn from any business related to the ICC and also “from having involvement in any aspect of CSA’s relationship with the BCCI, including but not limited to the upcoming tour.”
Despite an ICC inquiry being announced, the world body has so far made no public comment and left the two boards, led by India, to release details.
The joint statement also suggested India agreed to tour South Africa, an important financial windfall for the host country, only after Lorgat was dealt with.
CSA’s new chief executive has a long history of bitter disagreements with the BCCI stretching back to his time at the ICC.
South Africa initially announced a tour consisting of three tests, seven ODIs and two Twenty20 games over two months from November through to January, but India immediately expressed its unhappiness with that schedule.
CSA has agreed to only two tests and three ODIs, while Lorgat was sidelined from having any involvement in the tour.