De Villiers withdrawn from SA Invitational XI

AB de Villiers and Chris Morris have both been withdrawn from the South Africa Invitational XI that will play Zimbabwe in a three-day warm-up game in Paarl from Wednesday.

According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), De Villiers has a lower back strain and Morris a groin injury. Both players were part of the Titans side that recently won the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge.

De Villiers was selected in the Proteas Test squad for the four-day day/night against Zimbabwe that starts in Port Elizabeth from Boxing Day and it is thought that his back strain is not that serious.

ALSO READ: AB, Steyn back in Proteas Test squad

Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee said: “AB de Villiers is struggling with lower back stiffness and has been withdrawn from the three-day warm-up match as a precaution.

“He is, however, available for selection for the Test match against Zimbabwe.”

Young Western Province all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem has been brought into the SA Invitation XI as a replacement for Morris.

Revised SA Invitation XI squad: Dominic Hendricks (Highveld Lions, captain), Temba Bavuma (Cape Cobras), Tladi Bokako (Warriors), Michael Cohen (Cape Cobras), Isaac Dikgale (NW), Leus du Plooy (Knights), Dayyaan Galiem (Western Province), Zubayr Hamza (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rapulana (NW), Kelly Smuts (Warriors), Dale Steyn (Titans), Ricardo Vasconcelos (Boland), Shaun von Berg (Titans), Lizaad Williams (Cape Cobras)