Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis ruled out of final ODI

Dale Steyn has a mild left side strain. This was the injury which kept him out of Champions Trophy this year.

South Africa’s speed sensation Dale Steyn and all-rounder Jacques Kallis have been ruled out of the final one-day match against Pakistan due to injuries. While Pakistan have clinched the one-day series, South Africa will play for pride and take the confidence to the three match one-day series against India, starting on December 5.

Dale Steyn has a left side strain and Jacques Kallis has sprained his little finger of his right hand. Kallis and Steyn have been rested as Proteas would not want to risk them ahead of the home series against India.

Dale Steyn has played all the T20 matches, but he was not comfortable in the first ODI at Cape Town. The side strain, which ruled him out of Champions Trophy this year, has once again ruled him out of the final ODI against Pakistan. But the injury doesn’t seem to be severe.

On the other hand, Jacques Kallis injury seems to be severe, who made a return to international cricket after 21 months. Faf du Plessis paved the way for Jacques Kallis, but now with Kallis’ injury there is no appropriate replacement. Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren are likely to feature as an all-rounder in Saturday’s clash against Pakistan, while Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are the possible replacements for Dale Steyn.

South Africa had been packed with busy limited overs schedule, including 11 ODIs and four T20s, which took toll on some of the players. After the Pakistan series, they face India for three one-day matches and then two T20s against Australia before the Twenty20 World Cup.

The final match of the series against Pakistan is scheduled at Centurion on Saturday.