South Africa received another blow as veteran Dale Steyn got ruled out of the World Cup.
South Africa received another setback to their campaign as veteran pacer Dale Steyn was ruled out of the World Cup. The pacer had to leave the recently concluded IPL 2019 due to the same reason and had missed the first two matches of the ICC mega event for the Proteas.
When asked about the 36-year-old, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis said, “Dale has struggled really hard to get back into the team. It’s been a tough two-year, two-and-a-half years for him and he would need support right now. It’s important that us as the team and the management make sure there’s things in place for him to assist him, to be there for him. He needs love at the moment.”
“It’s a tough time for him. He’s tried really hard to get fit for this campaign. He was bowling unbelievably well in the lead-up to this tournament and the IPL he was at his best. Unfortunately, it happened there in the IPL in those two games that he played there,” du Plessis added.
The news becomes even more serious as young pacer Anrich Nortje was also ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured thumb, while Lungi Ngidi picked up a hamstring strain against Bangladesh which will keep him out for at least 10 days.
The right handed Pretoria batsman did not directly blame the IPL but went on to say that, “Had he not been picked up for IPL, who knows where Dale would have been right now. We can’t control that. So, it is important for me that we make sure that we are there for him because I know he’s been trying hard to make sure he is ready to try and make an impact on which will be his last World Cup.”
The Proteas after suffering consecutive losses in the two matches, will be looking to get a breakthrough in their World Cup 2019 campaign as they take on favourites India at Southampton on June 5.
(With PTI inputs)