World Cup 2019: South Africa pacer Dale Steyn ruled out of tournament

Steyn is South Africa’s fifth highest ODI wicket-taker of all time.

Hyderabad: South Africa's pacer Dale Steyn has been ruled out the ICC World Cup 2019 due to a shoulder injury. The 35-year-old paceman injured his shoulder during the recent Indian Premier League and failed to recover despite a month-long treatment.

The news was confirmed on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's clash against India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

• Steyn had already missed the first two games of the showpiece event against England and Bangladesh and skipper Faf du Plessis was hopeful that he would be fit in time for the game against India.
• Meanwhile, Steyn will be replaced in the South African squad by left-arm quick Beuran Hendricks who made his ODI debut in January this year against Pakistan.
• Steyn's absence will add to South Africa's agony as the Proteas lost their opening two games of the marquee tournament against England and Bangladesh.

Also, 2019 WC was dubbed as Steyn's last World Cup and his exit from the tournament might force the pacer to announce his retirement from international cricket soon.

Meanwhile, South Africa will also miss the services of Lungi Ngidi in the game against India after he injured himself during the game against Bangladesh.

The pacer had limped off the field with hamstring trouble after the end of the seventh over against Bangladesh in the match which saw Proteas lose by 21 runs. It was later confirmed that he would not take the ball again for the rest of the game and had been ruled out of the match.

Team manager Mohammed Moosajee had also confirmed that Ngidi would be forced to miss South Africa's clash against India. "He was assessed and clinically we felt that he had a left hamstring strain," the ICC website quoted Moosajee as saying. "We decided not to let him go out there and bowl any further in this match.

"So currently, it probably means that he'll be out for about a week to 10 days, but we'll have scans done tomorrow. The plan will be probably to get him ready for the West Indies match."