Keshav Maharaj has been “cleared for selection” for South Africa’s white-ball squads for the ongoing exchanges against Australia at home. Australia is in South Africa for three T20Is and five ODIs and has already won the first T20I in a dominating fashion.
Due to a torn left Achilles, Maharaj hasn’t participated in international cricket since the Johannesburg Test match against the West Indies in March. He will be available starting with the second T20I, with South Africa behind 1-0 after losing the first match by an enormous margin of 111 runs.
His rehabilitation “has progressed positively”, a CSA statement said, confirming that he had “successfully participated” in a pre-season 50-over match for Hollywoodbets Dolphins against AET Tuskers on Tuesday.
Maharaj was selected when the squads for the games against Australia were revealed on August 14. White-ball head coach Rob Walter commented that “he is ahead of where we thought he would be, so things look positive” after Maharaj was selected.
Sisanda Magala And Wayne Parnell Out Due To Injuries; Marco Jansen Granted Leave
However, due to a left knee injury, Sisanda Magala will not play in the second T20I; similarly, Wayne Parnell’s left shoulder ailment has returned; and Marco Jansen, who was released from the team to attend his sister’s wedding, will not play in the second or third T20Is.
Regarding Magala, CSA said that he “felt discomfort during training and subsequent scans revealed an infrapatellar tendinopathy“.
The medical team will continue to manage him ahead of the third T20I on Sunday.
With Parnell out for the immediate future and Jansen, who had played the first T20I unlike Parnell, South Africa’s fast-bowling resources look fairly thin.
Apart from Jansen, the first T20I featured Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, and Lizaad Williams in the pace attack, and Williams got three wickets.
?? #KFCT20I SQUAD UPDATE
✅ Keshav Maharaj has been cleared for selection
❌ Sisanda Magala has been ruled out (left knee injury)
❌Marco Jansen has been released from the squad to attend his sister's wedding #SAvAUS #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/MTEq0KF34K— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 1, 2023