Cricket

Visa complications have dashed the hopes of South African fast bowler Ottneil Baartman joining Hampshire for the remainder of the T20 Blast. Baartman, who played a pivotal role in South Africa's run to the T20 World Cup final, was set to bolster Hampshire's bowling attack in their final six group matches.However, his arrival was hindered by unspecified visa issues, forcing the club to cancel his deal on Friday. Hampshire's quarter-final aspirations have taken a significant blow, as they currently sit seventh in the nine-team South Group with only four matches remaining.Baartman was initially signed as a replacement for Naveen-ul-Haq, who withdrew from his Hampshire contract due to personal reasons and is now representing Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket.Hampshire's campaign has been plagued by inconsistency, with two wins, three no-results, and five defeats. Their hopes of reaching the knockout stages now hinge on winning all four of their remaining fixtures."We'll have to do some calculations to determine if we can still qualify," said Hampshire coach Adi Birrell after their recent loss to Sussex. "Two wins out of ten doesn't give us much of a chance, but we'll have to assess the situation."Birrell acknowledged that Hampshire's performances have been subpar throughout the tournament. "We haven't played well enough to progress," he said. "We've been off in all departments, and we haven't put in a complete performance yet."With their quarter-final hopes fading, Hampshire will now focus on finishing the season on a positive note and building towards next year's campaign.

Anrich Nortje's return to form is imminent, according to South Africa's white-ball coach Rob Walter. Despite underwhelming figures since his comeback from a six-month injury layoff, Walter remains confident in the fast bowler's abilities.Nortje's absence from September 2023 to March 2024, which included the ODI World Cup and South Africa's home summer, was due to a stress fracture. Since his return, he has played 11 T20 matches, claiming nine wickets at an economy rate of 11.22.Walter acknowledges the challenging conditions Nortje has faced, including facing a formidable West Indies side. He believes that these experiences will ultimately benefit the bowler. "He's not very far away," Walter said. "A world-class performer finds a way."Nortje's selection for the T20 World Cup squad over Lungi Ngidi, who has impressed in recent matches, was based on his raw pace. Walter emphasizes that Nortje's primary role is to "strike, break the game open, and then close it up."South Africa will also rely on Ottneil Baartman for slower-ball variations. Baartman, who made his debut against West Indies, has shown promise and is expected to play a significant role.Tabraiz Shamsi, who missed the West Indies series due to injury, has returned to training. However, South Africa's official warm-up match has been canceled due to logistical reasons.Despite the lack of a warm-up game, Walter believes that the team has had sufficient match practice. Three South Africans participated in the IPL final, while another was part of the Eliminator. South Africa will now focus on intra-squad scenario training before their first match against Sri Lanka on June 3.