South Africa's selectors have sent 24-year-old Free State batsman/wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk to Pakistan as injury cover for two specialist batsmen during the five-match one-day series.

Van Wyk will be on standby for Herschelle Gibbs who missed the opening eight-run defeat by Pakistan with strained stomach muscles and Neil McKenzie who suffered back spasms during Friday's match.

Van Wyk will fly on Sunday during the second match but will be available for the final three matches.

"We do have a few injury worries and the severe heat and humidity also took its toll on Friday when Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar suffered from cramps," national coach Eric Simons said from Lahore on Sunday.

"Morne will give us more flexibility if we have further injury problems or if we decide to rotate players in the rest of the games."

Van Wyk made his International debut against England in the final of the triangular series at Lord's in July and has been in fine form for South Africa A against Sri Lanka A with scores of 52, 56 and 118 in three one-day matches in South Africa last week.