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Challengers’ pacer Steyn out of IPL for another week

The Royal Challengers, battling in the IPL (Indian Premier League) here with just one win after five games, will be without pacer Dale Steyn until next weekend as he nurses a broken thumb.

The Royal Challengers will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the first of a double header in the IPL at Sahara Kingsmead Stadium in Durban Wednesday in an attempt to move from the bottom of the log.

But they will continue to be without Steyn, who failed to appear in the last three Challenger games in the series after suffering the injury during the match at Cape Town last Wednesday in which his side succumbed to the Deccan Chargers.

While the injury was kept a secret until now, informed sources within the South African cricket squad said it was “a blessing in disguise” that Steyn was injured, as two weeks recovery time will allow him a much-needed break.

The Challengers though, will want Steyn back as soon as possible as coach Ray Jennings and captain Kevin Pietersen are under pressure to perform.

The encounter with the Kolkata Knight Riders will be the last game for Pietersen in the tournament as he has to return to England for the home series against the West Indies.

South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is widely being touted to take over the Challengers’ captaincy.