South Africa will be further weakened in the second Test against Zimbabwe, starting Sunday in Bulawayo, after stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj was ruled out due to a left groin strain.
Having already fielded a largely second-string side in the first Test—featuring only four players from their World Test Championship final win over Australia at Lord’s—South Africa will now be down to just three from that elite group. Senuran Muthusamy is set to replace Maharaj in the playing XI.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder will take over captaincy duties as the Proteas aim to secure a 2-0 series sweep.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who also featured in the WTC final but missed the first Test, was expected to rejoin the squad in Zimbabwe. However, Cricket South Africa has since cancelled those plans.
