South Africa’s Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy with a back injury, the latest in a long line of setbacks for the fast bowler. Nortje was named in South Africa’s squad on Monday,

South Africa have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the Champions Trophy after Anrich Nortje was ruled out with a back injury. Nortje has not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup last June and was due to make a return for the white-ball series against Pakistan but broke his toe in the nets.

Anrich Nortjé has a long history of injuries curtailing his participation in major ICC 50-over events, and the bogey struck again on Wednesday as he will miss the Champions Trophy.

South Africa picked an experienced 15-man squad for next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan with 10 players having competed at the last World Cup in India in late 2023.

However, a scan on Monday revealed the extent of the injury and a Cricket South Africa statement confirmed Nortje is not expected to recover in time to feature in the eight-team c