Graeme Smith was ruled out of the remainder of South Africa’s limited-overs series against Pakistan on Wednesday with post-concussion syndrome following delayed symptoms of blurred vision and dizziness a week after he was hit on the head by a bouncer.
The opening batsman and test captain was hit on the right temple by a bouncer from giant Pakistan seamer Mohammed Irfan while making a double century on day two of the second test on Oct. 24, Cricket South Africa said.
Although he showed no signs of problems apart from a mild headache soon after the blow on his helmet, he started experiencing symptoms in the second one-day international on Friday, a week later.
“Tests at the time allowed him to continue playing,” South Africa manager and team doctor Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement. “However ... post-injury during the second ODI in Dubai he started complaining of blurred vision which progressed to dizziness, unsteadiness on his feet and difficulty focusing.”
Smith will leave the tour on Thursday and has been advised to rest for at least two weeks, and will “continuously be monitored,” Moosajee said.
Moosajee said Smith had also been for a brain scan, which was clear, but it was still decided he should be withdrawn from the remaining three ODIs and two Twenty20s on South Africa’s tour to the United Arab Emirates.
The team doctor described post-concussion syndrome as “a collection of symptoms that some people develop after they have experienced a minor traumatic brain injury otherwise known as concussion.”
South Africa and Pakistan drew the two-test series 1-1 after Smith’s 234 set up the Proteas’ victory in the second match. They are tied 1-1 in the five-match ODI series ahead of Wednesday’s third one-dayer and the tour will conclude with two T20s.
Quinton de Kock replaced Smith in Wednesday’s lineup, while batsman Henry Davids will join the squad as cover, CSA said.
