South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj was ruled out of the remaining matches

Due to a left arm muscle strain, South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remaining ODI series against Pakistan. He was injured on Tuesday during practice ahead of the first ODI in Pearl. He has been replaced by fast bowler all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo in South Africa's XI. Maharaj will return to Durban for rehab, while Bjorn Fortuin has been included in their squad for the remaining two ODIs against Pakistan. The next two matches are to be played in Cape Town and Johannesburg on Thursday and Sunday.

Cricket South Africa said in a post on X, "Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remaining ODI series against Pakistan after scans revealed a left arm muscle strain. He will return to Durban for rehabilitation and his condition will be re-assessed ahead of the first Test against Pakistan." Bjorn Fortuin has been included in the squad for the final two ODIs." Maharaj's injury adds to South Africa's growing list of unavailable bowlers. The hosts are already missing Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Wiaan Mulder through injury.

Maharaj recently played a crucial role in South Africa's final-day win against Sri Lanka at Kabeera, his 5 for 76 staunching a batting collapse. His absence could see South Africa turn to spin bowling options Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthusamy for the Test series against Pakistan. Other contenders include batting allrounder Neil Brand, who brings along with him left-arm spin, having toured New Zealand earlier this year, as well as leg-spinner Shaun von Berg, who also made his debut on the same tour, and Tabraiz Shamsi who is a left-arm spinner as well but has not played in the format since 2021.

The first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan will begin in Centurion on December 26. South Africa, currently ranked No. 1 on the World Test Championship points table, need to win one more to confirm their place in the final.