Du Plessis to miss the first four weeks of IPL 6
Du Plessis was recently diagnosed with bony inflammation in the lumbar spine and a six- week rest period has been advised. He will play the latter stages of the IPL in preparation for the Champions Trophy in June.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed in a media release on Tuesday that batsman Faf du Plessis will miss the first four weeks of the Indian Premier League as he recovers from a back injury. Du Plessis plays for last season's finalists Chennai Super Kings in the Twenty20 event.
CSA have named Quinton de Kock of the as the replacement for Faf du Plessis in the on-going Castle Lager Proteas squad for the final two ODI matches against Pakistan.
The first match takes place at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Thursday and the second at Sahara Willowmoore Park on Sunday. Both are day matches. The Proteas currently lead the five-match series 2-1.
"Faf has been troubled by low back pain over the past while," commented Proteas team manager Dr. Mohammed Moosajee. "He was recently diagnosed with bony inflammation in the lumbar spine and a six- week rest period has been advised.
"His symptoms have worsened over the past two weeks to the extent that it has become necessary to withdraw him from the current Momentum series immediately as well as the first four weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in order to allow for rest and rehabilitation as well as a course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to further facilitate healing.
"Faf will participate in the later stages of the IPL in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June."
CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson commented: "As disappointing as Faf's injury is, it must be seen as an opportunity for Quinton. He made a good start to his international career during the previous series against New Zealand and this is a chance for him to build on that," he said.