South African in-form explosive batter misses their Champions Trophy opener due to injury

The inaugural ICC Champions Trophy winners South Africa have started their journey in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Friday (February 21) with their Group B fixture against Afghanistan at the National Stadium in Karachi. While the Proteas have already missed a few of their regular players before the tournament, their in-form explosive batter missed out on their tournament opener due to an injury. 

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In-form Heinrich Klaasen misses South Africa's CT 2025 opener

The 33-year-old explosive middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen has missed out on South Africa's tournament opener against Afghanistan. He has been ruled out from the game as a precautionary measure due to a left elbow soft tissue injury. Since last December, South Africa have played four ODIs, and Klaasen scored 86, 97, 81, and 87 runs, respectively. Since 2024, Klaasen has been the leading ODI run-scorer for South Africa. 

South Africa will face Australia and England in the remaining two matches of the group stage. While Rawalpindi will host their next fixture against Australia on February 25, England will be their last group stage opponent on March 1 at Karachi. It will be interesting to see whether Klaasen becomes fit sooner or the Proteas face another blow. 

Tristan Stubbs isn't in the playing XI

Meanwhile, Tristan Stubbs is unlikely South Africa's first-choice player for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as he wasn't selected in the playing XI for the Afghanistan match. The 24-year-old has played eight ODIs, where he has recorded one century and one half-century with a batting average of 41.50 and a strike rate of 89.89.  

While South Africa are struggling in the recent ODI matches, it is an important tournament for them. The wound of the shocking ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final defeat against India is still very fresh for them, and this Champions Trophy is a serious journey beginning for them in the ODI format looking ahead to the next ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which South Africa will host along with Zimbabwe and Namibia in late 2027.