South Africa's fast bowling plans for ICC tournament in Bangladesh were in disarray last night after Shaun Pollock was forced to withdraw from the side because of a debilitating back injury.
With Allan Donald, Lance Klusener and Roger Telemachus not considered because of the forced rest and recuperation quarantine, and Steve Elworthy of the remaining front line bowlers remaining, Pollock's withdrawal means the side heads for the Indian sub-continent tomorrow with a decidedly makeshift look.
Pollock (jnr) of the had the unpleasant task last night of telling his father, Peter, convener of the national selection panel he was giving the ICC knock-out slog a miss.
Pollock (jnr) admitted he was far from happy with his fitness test at Kingsmead yesterday and after a chat with Graham Ford, KwaZulu/Natal's director of player affairs, went in search of Pollock (snr) with the unpleasant news.
Captain of the gold medal winning side at Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games almost a month ago, the young all-rounder struggled through a run around the lush green Test arena and then a bowling spell. The gangly quick bowler pulled up with an ache in his lower back area before he went to see Ford.
``Treatment to the back injury has not helped and he has not come along as we had hoped ,'' said Ford. ``I felt that in his longer-term interest it would be advisable not to bowl at present,'' Ford said.
``It will mean he can now concentrate on developing his batting and prepare him for the a return, as a bowler, in the SuperSport Series at the end of the month.
``He is out of tomorrow's Standard Bank League game against Free State but we are likely to consider him as a batsman for the North West match later next week,'' Ford said last night.''
The selectors are expected to announce a replacement today and four players likely to be considered are Free State's Herman Bakkes, who toured Sri Lanka with some success and has experience of bowling on sub-continental pitches, Mornantau Hayward and either Rudi Bryson or Meyrick Pringle.
Hansie Cronje knows Bakkes and could persuade the selectors to give hard-working Free State fast bowler a chance. It is going to be interesting choice.