Amla doubtful for ODIs, Ingram on standby

Hashim Amla, the South Africa batsman, is doubtful for the ODIs against Pakistan in the UAE, as his wife is yet to deliver their second child. Batsman Colin Ingram has been put on standby.

Amla had missed the second Test so he could be with his wife in anticipation of the birth. Cricket South Africa tweeted on Sunday afternoon that Ingram will be drafted in as his cover, while fast bowler Dale Steyn will be rested for the first two matches.

Steyn's being rested by team management is part of CSA's workload management for their premier bowlers. He is expected to fly home in the interim. He had tweaked his hamstring just before the second Test in Dubai, and despite some initial doubts over whether he was fit to play, did feature in the match which South Africa won by an innings and 92 runs.

Steyn hasn't played any ODIs since the Champions Trophy in June, missing the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka that followed with several niggles.

South Africa's team management also announced on Sunday that former coach Gary Kirsten will travel to the UAE during the ODI series, in the capacity of team batting mentor. When Kirsten did not renew his contract as coach earlier this year, it was thought that he would take up such consultancy roles with the team in the future. He will join the squad for five days between the second and third ODI's.

On Kirsten's appointment, team manager Mohammed Moosajee said: "Gary is a World-Cup winning coach and it would be naïve of us not to tap into his wisdom. We have a crop of young batsmen in the squad we feel will gain a lot of insight from his vast batting experience and knowledge. We are going into an important phase leading up to the World Cup so it will be important for us to tap into as many resources available to us."