SA selectors show their hand for World Cup

The South Africa selectors on Tuesday revealed their hand for this year's World Cup when they named their 15-man squad for the five-match one-day series against Pakistan.

Barring injuries, it can almost be taken for granted that there will be no changes when the World Cup squad is named in the middle of next month.

In the first place, captain Graeme Smith has publicly asked for the squad going to the Caribbean to be kept together for the Pakistan series and, in the second place, the selectors are merely sticking with the players who have earned second place in the world rankings over the course of the past two years.

The only debate was going to be around the selection of the last two or three players. It is surprising that the selectors have opted for Loots Bosman ahead of JP Duminy for the spare batting place.

As expected, the selectors have preferred incumbent Andrew Hall to the equally deserving Johannes van der Wath as allrounder, while Dale Steyn, with his wicket-taking ability in the middle of the innings, is another who is unlucky to miss out. Charl Langeveldt could, however, not be left out as he is the team's best death bowler.

Herschelle Gibbs will have to sit out Friday's Standard Bank Twenty20 international as well as Sunday's first one-day International because of his suspension.

For the former match, the selectors have not surprisingly decided to rest Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, André Nel, Hall and Langeveldt. Shaun Pollock stands in for Kallis as vice-captain.

Interesting selections in the Twenty20 side include Goolam Bodi, Alfonso Thomas and Morné van Wyk, all of whom are probably in the list of standby players for the World Cup should injuries occur.

Proteas squad:

One-day series:

Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus

Twenty20 International:

Graeme Smith (capt), Shaun Pollock (vice-capt), Loots Bosman, Goolam Bodi, AB de Villiers, Justin Kemp, Albie Morkel, Robin Peterson, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Johannes van der Wath, Morné van Wyk.