Ottis Gibson has revealed that Morne Morkel’s place in the ODI squad is not a certainty. 

The Proteas’ lanky speedster suffered a side strain which kept him out of the second Test against Bangladesh. The Proteas went on to demolish the Tigers with their biggest margin of victory, an innings and 254-run win in Bloemfontein within three days.

The 33-year-old’s injury will also see him out for up to six weeks – missing the three-match ODI series which starts on the 15th October.

‘I absolutely didn’t tell him anything about the World Cup because it is so far away,’ Gibson told the media on Sunday. ‘I encouraged him to enjoy his cricket, which he was doing last week before he got injured.’

Morkel has acknowledged in the past that his time with the Proteas is running up. Reports of him considering taking a Kolpak deal were raised prior to Gibson’s appointment.

‘I can’t afford to sit on the sidelines for the next two years and not play cricket,’ Morkel told CricBuzz. ‘It is all about timing and communication. I need to know what their thinking is for the next two years.’

Morkel has played in 79 Tests‚ 112 ODIs and 44 T20s for the Proteas.

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