Cricket SA National teams and high-performance director Enoch Nkwe has confirmed Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj will be out of action for the remainder of the season.
Playing for the Dolphins over the weekend in a CSA four-day clash against the North West Dragons, Maharaj bowled 27.3 overs in the first innings before being taken out of the attack at Kingsmead.
Dolphins' skipper Prenelan Subrayen completed the over, although Maharaj came out to bat facing 85 balls for his 39. Maharaj, though, did not bowl at all in the Dragons’ second innings.
The 35-year-old has been struggling with his groin throughout the summer with a "left adductor strain" forcing him to miss two ODIs against Pakistan. Maharaj was doubtful for the Test series against Pakistan too but recovered in time to take his place for the two Tests.
Independent Media understands Maharaj has now aggravated the same injury.
"Keshav has done his abductor again. He won’t play for the rest of the season," Nkwe exclusively told Independent Media.
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Dolphins coach Quinton Friend stated it was initially "a precautionary measure" to remove Maharaj out of the attack but confirmed that the left-arm spinner had undergone scans on Monday morning.
Maharaj has played all the domestic cricket available since returning from the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, helping the Dolphins to the 1-Day Cup championship title last week, and was evidently keen to secure the KwaZulu-Natal’s team place in the CSA Four-Day Cup final.
The Dolphins are currently second on the CSA Four-Day table behind the table-topping Lions.
The Proteas’ next fixture is, of course, the World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord’s in London on June 11, which Maharaj will be hoping to play an active role in.