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Smith left out of T20 squad

Cape Town - South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith was omitted from the 15-man squad to take part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday.

The 31-year-old last played a T20 international in October 2011, but in July was named by CSA in a 30-man provisional squad for the global event.

There was, however, a place in the squad for all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who has played just one T20 international for his country since May 2010.

"We are confident that our squad will be very competitive and make South Africa proud. We have had basically the same squad together for the past year and many of them also produced stand-out performances at the Indian Premier League (IPL)," CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

The World T20 starts in Sri Lanka on September 18 with South Africa drawn in the same group as the hosts and Zimbabwe.

In an effort to gain some valuable match practice ahead of the global showpiece, the same 15-man squad will play a three-match T20 series in England next month.

"The Proteas will also have excellent preparation for the World Twenty20 by finishing the England tour with three matches. They may be playing on a different surface to that they will find in Sri Lanka but they will be able to hone their T20 specific skills," Hudson added.

Proteas’ squad:

AB de Villiers (Titans, captain), Hashim Amla (Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Johan Botha (Warriors), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Jacques Kallis (Cape Cobras), Richard Levi (Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Dolphins)

CSA National Proteas Coach for women, Yashin Ebrahim, announced the following squad of 14 for the ICC World Twenty20:

Mignon du Preez (Northerns, captain), Trisha Chetty (KZN, vice-captain), Susan Benade (Griqua Diamonds), Dinesha Devnarain (KZN), Shandre Fritz (Western Province), Alison Hodgkinson (Boland), Shabnim Ismail (Western Province), Marizanne Kapp (Northerns), Ayabonga Khaka (Border), Marcia Letsoalo (Northerns), Sunette Loubser (Boland), Sune Luus (Northerns),  Yolandi van der Westhuizen (Boland), Dane van Niekerk (Northerns).

Ebrahim commented: “Our captain, Mignon du Preez, has played a vital role in our preparations and is growing quickly in this leadership role. Her calm demeanour, both on and off the field, has gelled the squad.

“She will be backed up by some fine individual performers such as her vice-captain, Trisha Chetty, who is one of the best wicketkeepers in the world and is also ranked among the top 10 specialist batsmen, Shandre Fritz, who is our only player to have scored a century in this format and Sunette Loubser, last year’s SA Women’s Cricketer of the Year.”
 
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