Northia out of Champions Trophy due to back injury: South Africa can include Gerald Coetzee in the team

Northya was scheduled to return to international cricket in the triangular tournament in Pakistan.

South African fast bowler Enrique Nortya has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to back injury. He has not played any international cricket since the T-20 World Cup held in June last year. A statement issued by Cricket South Africa said Nortya was scanned on Monday afternoon and is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.

Northia was about to return to international cricket from the triangular tournament in Pakistan. Northya was scheduled to make a comeback to international cricket in the triangular ODI tournament to be held in Pakistan in February. His toe got hurt at the net. Since then he has not been able to play a single match for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 League. He has also been dropped from South Africa’s marquee T-20 tournament. South Africa will soon release their replacement for Notreya for their Champions Trophy squad.

Gerald Coetzee may get a chance Gerald Coetzee may get a chance in place of Anrich Nortya for the Champions Trophy. Coetzee has returned from injury with the Super Kings in the SA20 League. He suffered a back injury during the Durban Test against Sri Lanka in November last year. South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter, who is also the team selector, said that during team selection, Nautrya was given priority over Coetzee because of his more experience.

Nortya is out for the third time in the last 6 ICC events This is the third time in the last six ICC events that Nortya has been ruled out due to injury, all of which have been ODI tournaments. He was scheduled to play in the 2019 World Cup but broke his thumb before the tournament, then missed the 2023 World Cup due to a lower back fracture and is now out of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Nortya has played all three T20 World Cups. He was available for the team in 2021, 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cup. He has not played ODI matches since September 2023 and Test matches since March 2023.

This season, 6 South African fast bowlers got injured and had to stay away from cricket. South Africa had to face injuries to fast bowlers this season. Six of its bowlers could not play in many matches due to injuries. Apart from Nortya, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi (both groins) and Wiaan Mulder (broken finger) missed several matches due to injuries. Now all three are back to play, but Nandre Berger (lower back stress fracture) and Lizaad Williams (knee) are out for the rest of the season.