Faf du Plessis will sit out South Africa'sfinal two one-dayers against Pakistan and the first four weeks of the IndianPremier League with a back injury.
The batsman needs a six-week rest because of pain andinflammation in his lower back and will spend time in an oxygen chamber to helphis recovery, South Africa manager Mohammed Moosajee said on Tuesday.
Du Plessis had his first session in the chamber earlierTuesday.
Du Plessis will miss the fourth and fifth ODIs againstPakistan on Thursday and Sunday and the first month of the IPL for his ChennaiSuper Kings team. He will be fit for the latter stages of the IPL, which runsfrom April 3 to May 26, in preparation for the Champions Trophy in England inJune, Moosajee said.
"Faf has been troubled by low back pain over the pastwhile," Moosajee said, adding the symptoms had worsened over the past twoweeks.
South Africa named wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock asDu Plessis' replacement for the final two ODIs against Pakistan in Durban andBenoni.
South Africa leads the five-match series 2-1.