Gerald Coetzee doubtful for Pakistan tour after muscle pull in Windhoek T20I

Published - 11 Oct 2025, 22:29 IST | Updated - 11 Oct 2025, 22:45 IST

Gerald Coetzee's participation for the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan might be under doubt after he injured himself during the one-off T20I between Namibia and South Africa on Saturday, October 11. Coetzee has been plagued with multiple injuries in the past as well.

Coetzee is understood to have suffered a pectoral muscle injury at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. He bowled with quite some zip though. However, he could bowl only 1.3 overs, barring the four wide balls before he played no further part in the game South Africa ultimately went on to lose by four wickets. CSA too had confirmed from their end of his further absence from the match.

The right-arm speedster has been unlucky with a series of injuries hitting him in the recent past. A groin injury ruled Coetzee out of South Africa's Champions Trophy 2025 plans. He then made a return to the side in Zimbabwe a few months back. From that point in time, Coetzee has represented South Africa A against New Zealand A. He was also named in the T20I as well as ODI squads of the multi-format tour against Pakistan.

Coetzee last played a red-ball game in November 2024. He was ruled out of the rest of South Africa's Test summer after injuring his groin. Coetzee is not the first pacer to have suffered an injury setback of late. Kwena Maphaka was ruled out of the Namibia fixture as well as the tour of Pakistan due to a hamstring strain. Maphaka sustained the injury while playing a domestic red-ball match.

The Proteas have a strong pace-bowling unit irrespective of these injuries. Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams have come back successfully after sustaining a lower back stress fracture and a knee surgery, respectively.  Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder are South Africa's pacers in their Test squad which will face Pakistan for a couple of Tests.