South African cricket captain Graeme Smith was scheduled to arrive back in South Africa on Wednesday evening after breaking the middle finger of his left hand during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) media manager Michael Owen-Smith, Wednesday said CSA's medical team had not yet seen the x-rays of Smith's injury, and so had been unable to determine how long he would be out of action.

"Graeme will be bringing all the x-rays and reports with him, and he will see CSA?s hand specialist in Cape Town on Thursday," said Owen-Smith.

"We are obviously very keen to get him back in action in time for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies at the end of the month."

It is the fourth time in the past 14 months that Smith has fractured a finger. Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson broke both of Smith's little fingers during the back-to-back Test series between South Africa and Australia last year, and last month, Smith broke his left little finger during fielding practice before the second Test against India in Kolkata.

Smith apparently broke the finger when taking a catch to dismiss Virender Sehwag during the match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Delhi Daredevils.

His finger got hooked in the ground, and he is thought to have suffered a double fracture.