Soft tissue infection in lower limb compels Rabada to leave Ind T20 League early 

Kagiso Rabada has travelled back home citing fitness issues as he suffered a soft tissue infection in lower limb. 

The SA speedster made 11 appearances for the Punjab side and claimed 11 wickets at an economy of 8.75 but will not be seen in the final two games. With Punjab out of playoffs, Rabada was allowed to fly back home, where he consulted a specialist. As per a CSA Statement  “closely monitored by the medical team" in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Rabada’s inclusion is specifically crucial to Proteas as he is the only black-African player named in the provisional 15 man squad. CSA presently has targets for the national team that require them to field, on average over the course of a season, six players of colour in every playing XI, of which a minimum two must be black African. South Africa will miss that at the T20 World Series , where they possess six players of colour in the squad but only one black African.  So, Rabada will have to play each and every game to make sure they do not fall too far behind the total target.  Over the 2024-25 season, the men in green will have the opportunity to increase the average. 

The only other black African player who was realistically in contention for the squad was Lungi Ngidi. The 28 year old has been included as a travelling reserve. SA’s other pacers are Anrich Nortje, who has returned after a nine-month halt due to a stress fracture, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman.