/ 14 February 2008

Selection dispute may hamper tour, says Smith

A dispute over the number of black players in their squad could hamper South Africa’s performance on the tour of Bangladesh, captain Graeme Smith said on Thursday.

”It hasn’t been great what’s happened back at home,” Smith told reporters on his arrival at Dhaka airport.

”It probably does put a lot of extra pressure on the individuals here and all the team.”

South Africa will play two Tests and three one-day internationals in their month-long tour. The first Test starts in Dhaka on February 22.

The squad was due to be announced last week but disputes between the selectors and the president of Cricket South Africa, Norman Arendse, delayed the process.

”At the end of the day we have to knuckle down and concentrate on cricket,” Smith said.

”We have got some wonderful players and we have come here with respect and hopefully we can play a brand of cricket the Bangladesh people will look at and enjoy.” — Reuters