Nortje back in South Africa squad for Champions Trophy

JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Monday named in South Africa´s 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in Pakistan next month.

Nortje, 31, has not played in a 50-over match since September 2023 when he suffered a stress fracture. He came back to be South Africa´s most successful bowler in the T20 World Cup last June but has not played an international match since the final against India in Barbados.

He turned down a Cricket South Africa contract in order to play T20 franchise cricket. Nortje had been due to play in white-ball matches against Pakistan last month but suffered a broken right toe while batting in the nets.

Coach Rob Walter said he was confident Nortje would be in peak physical condition for the Champions Trophy. "He was at our camp in Pretoria bowling really quickly," said Walter. "He was super-fit and super-energised to be playing for South Africa again and it was just one of those unfortunate circumstances. Anrich is the ultimate professional, he looks after himself and takes care of his conditioning. I´ve got no doubt he´ll be good to go." Fellow fast bowler Lungi Ngidi will also return after recovering from the groin injury which kept him out of South Africa´s home international season.

Ten of the squad played in the Cricket World Cup in India in 2023, where Walter said the team had "played exceptional cricket" to reach the semi-finals. While South Africa´s quest for a major trophy continues, Walter said a core group of players would benefit from reaching the semi-finals and final of their last two International Cricket Council events.

"They know what it feels like to be in the cauldron," he said. South African squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.