Smith out of Champions Trophy

South Africa opener ruled out due to ankle injury.

CAPE TOWN: South African Test captain Graeme Smith will miss the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in England in June because of an ankle injury, announced Cricket South Africa.

Smith will return to South Africa after scans in London on Wednesday revealed a stress fracture to his left ankle. Smith will also miss the rest of the season with English county Surrey, who had appointed him captain.

Smith captained South Africa in 149 One-Day Internationals (ODI) before relinquishing the captaincy to AB de Villiers two years ago.

In a statement, Cricket South Africa quoted Smith as saying, “It’s a big blow for me personally to be missing out on the Champions Trophy next month The ODI squad is creating something special and I was looking forward to being part of that family.

“I will no doubt be supporting from my living room and I know the players, under AB’s leadership will be giving all that they can during the tournament.”

Smith is the second experienced South African player to be missing from the Champions Trophy following the decision of all-rounder Jacques Kallis to make himself unavailable due to personal reasons.

Pakistan to face Sri Lanka in opening warm-up match

Meanwhile, the ICC announced the schedule of the warm-up matches to be played in the build up to the Champions Trophy.

The matches will be played from May 30 to June 4 at the Cardiff Wales Stadium, Edgbaston and The Oval.

Pakistan will play their first warm-up match against Sri Lanka on May 30 at Edgbaston. Their second and last warm-up game will be held against South Africa on June 3 at The Oval.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.