Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wristspinner, has left South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka for family reasons. No date has been set for his return.
Shamsi took four wickets in his first red-ball Test in Galle last week, which South Africa lost by 278 runs. In the first innings, Shamsi outbowled Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm orthodox, who had been ill in the build up to the Test and subsequently went wicketless. Maharaj found his rhythm as the match progressed and picked up four second-innings wickets.
Galle was the first time since their tour of India in November 2015 that South Africa played two specialist spinners in their XI. With conditions likely to remain spinner-friendly, there is a likelihood that they could keep a similar combination for the second Test starting Friday.
Should Shamsi not return in time, uncapped legspinner Shaun von Berg could make his Test debut at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo