October 05 Saturday 2002
Ngam ruled out for three months 

JOHANNESBURG: South African fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam has been ruled out of action for three months with a broken right foot and faces a race against time to get fit for the World Cup on his home soil in February and March. 

Ngam has been plagued by serious injuries in the last year. South African officials said they would do everything they could to get him fit for the World Cup. 

With Allan Donald in the twilight of his career and captain Shaun Pollock's future threatened by South Africa's recent spate of defeats in key matches, Ngam is seen as an important figure in the rebuilding of the team's attack. 

A United Cricket Board media release said Ngam had been injured while bowling in a domestic first class match at the weekend and would undergo surgery followed by an intensive programme of physiotherapy and strengthening exercises. 

A date for Ngam's operation has yet to be set. 

"The medical report says he will be out for three months, and that leaves us with two months before the start of the World Cup," South African selection convenor Omar Henry said. 

"A lot can happen in that time, both good and bad, and we want to give him the best support we can as far as his rehabilitation is concerned." 

He added: "We feel the frustration with him. We value him as a player and we can understand what he's going through. He was making progress and now this. It is a big blow to us, but we've got to keep our chins up." 

Ngam burst on to the international scene in 2000-01 when, aged 21 and after playing in just 15 first class matches, he was selected to play in the third test against the touring New Zealanders. 

He overwhelmed the Kiwis and the Sri Lankans with his blistering pace. But a month after making his debut he suffered his third stress fracture in as many years and has spent much of the ensuing 18 months on the sidelines.