Kagiso Rabada suffers hamstring injury ahead of Proteas summer

Kagiso Rabada has suffered a hamstring injury during a winter training programme, leaving South Africa’s leading fast bowler facing an interrupted build-up to the home international season. The 31-year-old has not played since May 31, when he last appeared for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.

Rabada was not included in the Proteas squad for the T20 tri-series and one-day internationals against Namibia starting next week. He had been expected to return for the start of South Africa’s home programme, beginning with Australia’s visit on September 24 in Durban.

The Australia assignment includes three one-day internationals before a three-Test series. Rabada’s fitness will therefore be an important factor in South Africa’s preparations for a demanding schedule, with the Test matches following immediately after the limited-overs games.

South Africa will then host Bangladesh in a multi-format tour comprising two Tests, three ODIs and T20 internationals. England are due to arrive in December for the traditional festive-season fixtures, giving the Proteas a packed home calendar after the Australia series.

Rabada has been an important figure in South Africa’s Test plans, and his absence from the initial limited-overs squads had been linked to preparation for the home campaign. The hamstring problem now adds uncertainty to his readiness for the contests against Australia and the matches that follow.

South Africa have also lost Senuran Muthusamy from the SA A squad for its first four-day match against Bangladesh A. The spin-bowling allrounder was withdrawn because of a lower-back spasm. Muthusamy featured in the Test team that drew its series in Pakistan before winning in India late last year.