South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the World Cup with a shoulder injury, tournament organisers announced on Tuesday.
The International Cricket Council said in a statement that it had approved pace bowler Beuran Hendricks as a replacement for Steyn for the remainder of the tournament.
"Bowler Steyn has suffered a second shoulder injury which has not responded to treatment and has ruled him out of bowling for the foreseeable future," said the ICC statement.
"His replacement Hendricks is a left-arm fast bowler."
#BreakingNews Dale Steyn out of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with Beuran Hendricks to replace him. More to follow. #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/vZLZWj6kw4
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 4, 2019
The 35-year-old had been battling to overcome a shoulder injury in time for Wednesday's clash with India in Southampton, with South Africa under huge pressure after defeats in their opening two matches of the tournament.
Styen, who also left the Indian T20 League camp after just two games with the team Bengaluru, didn’t feature in any of South Africa’s World Cup or warm-up games. He moved back to South Africa for further assessment following his Indian T20 League stint and was expected to gain full fitness by May 19.
South Africa have endured a wretched start to the tournament, losing to hosts England by 104 runs then slipping to a 21-run loss to Bangladesh on Sunday.
Gibson said on Monday that Steyn was winning his injury fight, saying he was "getting closer every day", but less than 24 hours later the talismanic figure was out of the competition.
Hendricks, on the other hand, made his ODI debut against Pakistan only this year and picked just wicket in two matches.
Heading into their third World Cup fixture, against India, South Africa are also set to miss the services of Lungi Ngidi, who is ruled out for the game owing to a hamstring injury.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Gianluigi Guercia
