By IANS
Johannesburg : Out-of form opener Herschelle Gibbs has been dropped from the 14-member South African cricket squad for the tour to Bangladesh later this month.
J.P. Duminy, 23, from the Western Province has replaced Gibbs. The left-handed batsman has averaged 22.40 from six outing in Tests in the last 12 months. He has also scored 227 runs at an average of 113.50 in his four one-day (ODI) innings during South Africa’s recent 5-0 routing of West Indies.
Middle-order batsman Neil McKenzie and pacer Andre Nel have now been included in the squad after being declared fit.
The announcement of the team was delayed amid reports of a rift between Norman Arendse, Cricket South Africa (CSA) president and coach Mickey Arthur.
Arendse complained that the team selected for the upcoming tour did not conform to the board’s transformation policy that calls for seven coloured players in the 15-member squad.
However, the CSA chief denied allegations that he wanted coloured Gibbs and Monde Zondeki, who finished as the second-highest wicket-taker (54) in the domestic SuperSport Series, to be included in the squad.
Arendse also expressed his anguish over Gibbs and another coloured player Charl Langeveldt’s exclusion from the squad.
“The CEO (Majola) has effectively over-ridden my veto, and I suppose the team that was announced today is the one that will go to Bangladesh,” Arendse was quoted as saying by the media.
“I don’t have the financial resources to send another team, and I can’t stop players from getting on the plane Wednesday.”
South Africa will play two Tests and three ODIs in Bangladesh. The series starts with the first Test Feb 22.
The squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wicketkeeper), A.B. de Villiers, J.P. Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn.