PAK vs SA: Revealed - Why Is Kagiso Rabada Not Playing Today's Match Against Pakistan
Published - 27 Oct 2023, 04:32 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:02 AM
The premier South Africa National Cricket Team pacer Kagiso Rabada was surprisingly left out of the playing XI in the 26th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Pakistan National Cricket Team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Friday, October 27.
South Africa, who have been flying high in the ongoing edition of the ICC World Cup, were invited to bowl first in the match against the Men In Green. The Proteas have been dominant while batting first and have posted humongous totals on the board. On the other hand, while chasing they faced a defeat at the hands of the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, skipper Temba Bavuma returned to the team after missing out on playing XI in the last couple of games due to sickness. Alongside him, Tabraiz Shamsi and Lungi Ngidi were back in the playing XI, and Kagiso Rabada, Reeza Hendricks, and Lizaad Williams were left out. Speaking at the toss Temba Bavuma said:
“We’ve played some good cricket, inspirational performances. We’ve build some momentum with our bowlers and batters clicking. This is not like a T20 WC where you play just 4-5 group games, we need to keep doing well. I would have surely batted here, looks like a good wicket.
“Hopefully it stays nice and hard like this, we’ll have to assess quickly on how to go about things here. Three changes – I come back, Tabriz Shamsi and Ngidi comes in. Reeza Hendricks, Rabada and Lizaad Williams miss out.”
Revealed – Why Is Kagiso Rabada Not Playing
Kagiso Rabada not being part of the playing XI came as a major surprise to the fans as he has been the first-choice pacer of the Proteas for a very long time and he has performed quite well in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Although Temba Bavuma didn’t make any revelation behind Kagiso Rabada’s exclusion, Cricket South Africa took to their official X handle to reveal that the pacer has been ruled out of the match due to a lower back spasm.
? ????
??Pakistan have won the toss & will bat first ?
Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out (lower back spasm)#PakvSA #CWC23 #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/v0p1kYBfQm
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 27, 2023
Speaking on Star Sports, Faf du Plessis expressed his surprise over Kagiso Rabada’s exclusion, but he was sure that the pacer wasn’t dropped because of any issues with his form.
“I am surprised with Kagiso Rabada. I think they must have taken the call to rest him or he might have been feeling a little bit of sickness. Generally, he would be slotting into your first XI. But no surprises with the other changes. Tabraiz Shamsi is a good change. He will be raring to make a big impact against Pakistan in Chennai today,” Faf du Plessis told Star Sports.
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ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 ICC World Cup 2023 Kagiso Rabada PAK vs SA Pakistan National Cricket Team South Africa National Cricket Team