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Kolkata - South Africa have injury worries over their leading run scorer and wicket-taker at the Cricket World Cup ahead of the Group B match against Ireland on Tuesday.
South Africa coach Corrie Van Zyl confirmed on Monday that batsman AB De Villiers had gone for a scan on an injured left thigh muscle, a problem that forced him to use a runner in Saturday's victory over India.
"We are just waiting for a full medical report so we will make a decision a little bit later," Van Zyl said. "I'm not a doctor. I don't think it's major in terms of out of the tournament, but as I said I'm not a doctor. I'll wait for the doctor's report."
De Villiers has scored two centuries and a half-century in four innings at the World Cup and is likely to be left out for the game against the Irish as South Africa plans ahead for the knockout stage.
De Villiers also struggled with a lower back problem earlier in the tournament, with Morne van Wyk taking over wicketkeeping duties.
Leading bowler Imran Tahir, who has 11 wickets in three matches, is resting a fractured left thumb that sidelined him during South Africa's dramatic, last-over win over India.
The Pakistan-born legspinner was already expected to sit out Tuesday's game after he was advised to undergo a 10-day recovery period. He fractured the finger against England on March 6.
Van Zyl said his starting lineup against Ireland "depends on availability" but insisted South Africa would still be strong in Kolkata as it looks to seal its place in the quarterfinals.
"We said when we left South Africa that we have got a 15-man squad we feel that can represent South Africa on any given day," Van Zyl told reporters. "That gives us options and I believe that even if both of them (De Villiers and Tahir) can't play on Tuesday, then the 11 that we put in the field will be a strong 11."
The South Africans chose not to practice at the renovated Eden Gardens on Monday and will head into Tuesday's match without a formal workout at the stadium.
Van Zyl later went to examine the Eden Gardens pitch with the team manager and media manager, with no sign of the Proteas players.
"Because we are not training doesn't mean we are not prepared," Van Zyl said. "This is part of our preparation, having close games (against India)."
"Sometimes you just get caught up with it, do you have to practice or do you practice for the sake of practicing? But being prepared is important ... we are well aware of what's expected with day-night matches in Kolkata."
Following the dramatic win over India, which Van Zyl said was a psychological boost for the team, South Africa needs one point from its remaining group games against Ireland and Bangladesh to reach the quarter-finals.
