Cape Town - Despite being ruled out of the opening three (of six) One Day Internationals (ODI) against India with a finger injury, star batsman AB de Villiers was spotted on the fairways of Pretoria Country Club earlier in the week.

Late last Tuesday afternoon, January 30, Cricket South Africa (CSA) issued a statement confirming De Villiers had sustained a finger injury in the third and final Test against India at the Wanderers and would require "up to two weeks to make a full recovery".

The statement went on to confirm that the medical team, under the guidance of Dr Mohammed Moosajee, were hopeful De Villiers would be fit in time for selection for the fourth 'Pink' ODI on Saturday, February 10.

The ODIs De Villiers were due to miss were scheduled for February 1, 4 and 7.

Those present at Pretoria Country Club a day after the diagnosis, Wednesday, January 31, may therefore have been somewhat bemused and confused as De Villiers enjoyed a round of golf while his team-mates were preparing for the opening ODI in Durban, a match the Proteas would go on to lose by six wickets.

The Proteas were then embarrassed in the second ODI at De Villiers' home SuperSport Park on Sunday, crashing to a record nine-wicket loss as India opened up a 2-0 series lead heading into the third match at Newlands on Wednesday.

Eagle-eyed members of Pretoria Country Club confirmed to Sport24 that De Villiers did indeed play 18 holes and pointed out his score on the Handicaps SA Network.

For the record, De Villiers signed for an impressive round of 9-over par, 81 off his current 11 handicap.

While no conspiracy is suggested, and a formal response from CSA is awaited, fans of the Proteas will no doubt draw their own conclusions whether it's 'fair or foul' South Africa's star batsman should potentially risk further injury by hitting the fairways.

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