The South African cricket captain Graeme Smith faces a race against time to get fit for next month's first Test against India after an X-ray revealed an undisplaced fracture in his hand.
The 29-year-old was unable to bat in South Africa's second innings of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Dubai after the damaged finger, first hit during the one-day series last month, flared up again.
South Africa host India for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match next month with the opening Test to be played at Centurion from December the 16th.
The Test series is billed as a contest between the world's top two teams, with India number one in Test rankings and South Africa at number two.
The Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee says Smith has been advised to take a three-week rest.
South Africa currently lead the second and final test by 323 runs with six wickets in hand, but with the match heading into day five and with Pakistan's second innings yet to come the test looks certain to end in a draw.
The series is tied up at nil-all.
