The South African selection panel has named 31 players* in a preliminary training
squad in the run-up to the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
"These players will be given fitness regimes and training programmes and
then, once all the team management is finalized, we will look at our
strategy and decide on the camps we should bring the squad together for,"
said national selection panel convenor Omar Henry today.
"I must stress that this is a dynamic squad and we are sure to see many
changes to it as the World Cup draws closer. Every first-class player in
South Africa must continue to strive for the goal of representing his
country in the World Cup next year. No player is out of sight, out of mind
or out of the picture," Henry insisted. "We have named the players who we
want to bring under the wing of the UCB fitness staff as an initial grouping
to maintain a high level of fitness, injury prevention and focus. But anyone
who plays well could still be included in this group," he added.
UCB CEO Gerald Majola complimented the selectors on the training squad. "We
have here a squad which is well balanced in every way. Of course, no doors
are closed and I want all our other players to know that," he said.
Percy Sonn, the President of the UCB, said the squad was filled with players
that South Africa could be proud of. "Nothing is final about this squad,
but our hopes and aspirations of becoming world-beaters largely rest on the
shoulders of these players and on their dedication and will to win."
* The 31 players include Mfuneko Ngam who will join the squad only once he
has been declared fully fit
PROVISIONAL TRAINING SQUAD FOR 2003 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP:
Paul Adams
Left arm wrist spin bowler, right hand batsman
Western Province
Born: 20 January 1977
Hashim Amla
Right hand batsman, right arm medium bowler
KwaZulu-Natal
Born: 13 March 1983
Dale Benkenstein
Right hand batsman, right arm off-break bowler
KwaZulu-Natal
Born: 9 June 1974
Gulam Bodi
Left arm wrist spin bowler, left hand batsman
KwaZulu-Natal
Born: 4 January 1979
Nicky Boje
Left arm orthodox bowler, left-hand batsman
Free State
Born: 20 March 1973
Loots Bosman
Right hand batsman
Griqualand West
Born: 14 April 1977
Mark Boucher
Wicketkeeper, right hand batsman
Border
Born: 3 December 1976
Boeta Dippenaar
Right hand batsman
Free State
Born: 14 June 1977
Allan Donald
Right arm fast bowler
Free State
Born: 20 October 1966
Steve Elworthy
Right arm fast medium bowler, right hand batsman
Northerns
Born: 23 February 1965
Herschelle Gibbs
Right hand batsman
Western Province
Born: 23 February 1974
Andrew Hall
Right hand batsman, right arm fast medium bowler
Easterns
Born: 31 July 1975
Mornantau Hayward
Right arm fast bowler
Eastern Province
Born: 6 March 1977
Jacques Kallis
Right hand batsman, right arm fast medium bowler
Western Province
Born: 16 October 1975
Justin Kemp
Right hand batsman, right arm fast medium bowler
Eastern Province
Born: 2 October 1977
Gary Kirsten
Left hand batsman
Western Province
Born: 23 November 1967
Lance Klusener
Left hand batsman, right arm medium bowler
KwaZulu-Natal
Born: 4 September 1971
Charl Langeveldt
Right arm fast medium bowler
Boland
Born: 17 December 1974
Neil McKenzie
Right hand batsman
Northerns
Born: 24 November 1975
Andre Nel
Right arm fast medium bowler
Easterns
Born: 15 July 1977
Mfuneko Ngam
Right arm fast bowler
Eastern Province
Born: 29 January 1979
* Once the selectors have been told by the medical staff that Mfuneko
Ngam is fully fit, he will be drafted into the squad.
Makhaya Ntini
Right arm fast bowler
Border
Born: 6 July 1977
Justin Ontong
Right hand batsman; right arm leg break, off-break bowler
Boland
Born: 4 January 1980
Shaun Pollock
Right arm fast medium bowler, right hand batsman
KwaZulu-Natal
Born: 16 July 1973
Ashwell Prince
Left hand batsman
Western Province
Born: 28 May 1977
Jonty Rhodes
Right hand batsman
KwaZulu-Natal
Born: 27 July 1969
Jacques Rudolph
Left hand batsman, right arm leg spin bowler
Northerns
Born: 4 May 1981
Graeme Smith
Left hand batsman, right arm off-spin bowler
Western Province
Born: 1 February 1981
Roger Telemachus
Right arm fast medium bowler
Western Province
Born: 27 March 1973
Thami Tsolekile
Wicketkeeper, right hand batsman
Western Province
Born: 9 October 1980
Martin van Jaarsveld
Right hand batsman
Northerns
Born: 18 June 1974