Du Plessis, Steyn face fitness test
South Africa players doubtful for opening match against Sri Lanka.
Du Plessis missed both the warm-up matches ahead of the tournament. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
CHITTAGONG:
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and spearhead Dale Steyn will undergo fitness tests ahead of their opening World Twenty20 game in Chittagong, said the captain on Friday.
Both Du Plessis and Steyn took part in team practice on Friday but have not fully recovered from hamstring injuries.
“It’s been a pretty intense week for Dale and me trying to make sure we are 100% ready for the game tomorrow [Saturday],” said Du Plessis, ahead of the match against world number one Twenty20 team Sri Lanka.
“As of now we are still assessing, we both will do a fitness test to see where we are. We seem to be okay, but we will have a look at it tomorrow [Saturday] to see how the hamstring is doing.”
Du Plessis missed both the warm-up matches ahead of the tournament while Steyn limped off after bowling 2.2 overs against Bangladesh ‘A’ on Tuesday.
Both missed the warm-up tie against Pakistan on Wednesday. Du Plessis said he did not face problems in batting.
“Batting is 100% fine. I don’t feel anything, but it’s just when you are sprinting. Pace wise I am up to about 70%, hopefully we can crank that up to around 90-95 tomorrow [Saturday].” South Africa’s one-day captain AB de Villiers is likely to lead in case Du Plessis is ruled out on Saturday.
In the second Super-10 match of the day, England will take on New Zealand.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2014.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and spearhead Dale Steyn will undergo fitness tests ahead of their opening World Twenty20 game in Chittagong, said the captain on Friday.
Both Du Plessis and Steyn took part in team practice on Friday but have not fully recovered from hamstring injuries.
“It’s been a pretty intense week for Dale and me trying to make sure we are 100% ready for the game tomorrow [Saturday],” said Du Plessis, ahead of the match against world number one Twenty20 team Sri Lanka.
“As of now we are still assessing, we both will do a fitness test to see where we are. We seem to be okay, but we will have a look at it tomorrow [Saturday] to see how the hamstring is doing.”
Du Plessis missed both the warm-up matches ahead of the tournament while Steyn limped off after bowling 2.2 overs against Bangladesh ‘A’ on Tuesday.
Both missed the warm-up tie against Pakistan on Wednesday. Du Plessis said he did not face problems in batting.
“Batting is 100% fine. I don’t feel anything, but it’s just when you are sprinting. Pace wise I am up to about 70%, hopefully we can crank that up to around 90-95 tomorrow [Saturday].” South Africa’s one-day captain AB de Villiers is likely to lead in case Du Plessis is ruled out on Saturday.
In the second Super-10 match of the day, England will take on New Zealand.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2014.