ICC Champions Trophy: AB de Villiers to undergo fitness test ahead of India clash
AB de Villiers, South Africa captain, sustained a hamstring injury during his side’s 19-run defeat against Pakistan in their ICC Champions Trophy clash at Edgbaston. South Africa must win against India on Sunday in order to qualify for the semi-finals.
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers, who is nursing a hamstring injury, will undergo fitness Test ahead of their penultimate Champions Trophy group clash against India to be held at the Kennington Oval on Sunday.
The 33-year-old sustained the injury during his side’s 19-run defeat against Pakistan in the second Group B clash at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
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He was seen clutching his hamstring while fielding in the second innings of the match and was subsequently forced to leave the field briefly before making a return shortly.
Reflecting on his injury, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that de Villiers would have to undergo fitness test on Saturday to determine his availability for the India clash.
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The Proteas skipper has not clicked with the bat as of yet in the ongoing eight-team marquee event, having scored four and 0 against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively.
His golden duck against Pakistan was his first of the ODI career.
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If de Villiers forced to rule out of the match, Faf du Plessis is most likely to step in as stand-in captain while Farhaan Behardien is likely to be called-up into the Playing XI.
With all the four teams of Group B tied on two points each, Sunday’s encounter between India and South Africa is effectively a quarter-final, with the winner of the match making it to the semi-finals while the loser will be heading home.
