Haroon Lorgat, Cricket South Africa’s national convenor of selectors, on Thursday announced the 14-man Standard Bank one-day international (ODI) squad to compete at the ICC Champion Trophy in India next month.
He also announced four additional members who will make up an 18-man ODI squad to play a three-match one-day series against Zimbabwe in South Africa beginning next week.
”With several of our key players needing to pass fitness tests before they can be considered for selection, we had little choice but to select a larger-than-usual squad.” Lorgat explained.
Graeme Smith is recovering from an ankle operation while Justin Kemp, Jacques Kallis and Charl Langeveldt will undergo fitness tests in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Jacques Kallis will captain the squad in the absence of Smith against Zimbabwe. Smith should be fit to take over his leadership role when the Proteas tour India.
”We continue along our path of building a pool of players from which the final World Cup 2007 squad will be selected,” said Lorgat.
”We will be using the games against Zimbabwe and the ICC Champions Trophy as preparation for the World Cup and to settle on our final combinations.” said Lorgat.
Lorgat indicated that South Africa had lost an opportunity when they returned home early from Sri Lanka. ”But we are well on track to shape the final World Cup squad and to meet our transformation targets with our best team selected.
”More than enough players, including black players, are making an impact on the field to warrant selection into our final squad.
”All selected players will be encouraged to play for their franchises at every given opportunity, in order to stake a claim for a place in the final ICC World Cup squad.
”The door is open for any player outside of the squad who performs and fits the role that the selectors will be looking for, as evidenced by the selection of newcomers Alviro Petersen and JP Duminy.
”Petersen and Duminy were impressive in the recent SA Emerging squad tour to Australia,” added Lorgat.
Zimbabwe will play the Proteas in the ODI Series at Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein on Friday September 15 (day/night), Sunday September 17 at Buffalo Park in East London (day match) and at Sedgars Park on Wednesday September 20 in Potchefstroom (day/night).
Two additional matches have also been scheduled for the South African team to play against the Highveld Lions and the Titans. On Friday September 22, the Proteas will play the Highveld Lions at Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium in a day/night game in Johannesburg, and the Titans are the opponents on Sunday September 24 2006 in a day match.
The squad for the ICC Champion Trophy is: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis (vice-captain), Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson.
The following players will form part of the Zimbabwe and ICC World Cup training squads: JP Duminy, Alviro Peterson, Roger Telemachus, Johan van der Wath.
Management: Goolam Rajah (team manager), Mickey Arthur (coach), Vincent Barnes (assistant coach), Adrian le Roux (fitness trainer) Shane Jabaar (physiotherapist), Gustav Obermeyer (computer analyst), Gordon Templeton (media liaison officer), Haroon Lorgat (national convenor of selectors) — Sapa