South Africa include Tahir, injured Kallis

Also called up are Francois du Plessis, who made a half-century on debut against India at Newlands on Tuesday, and reserve wicket-keeper Morne van Wyk, who caught the eye with his pyrotechnics in the Twenty20 international at the Moses Mabhida stadium ten days back.

Announcing the team late on Tuesday night, convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson said the team had been picked specifically with sub-continental conditions in mind.

“It’s a team that hasn’t hit its straps yet,” the former opener pointed out. “We have been working really hard for the last eight months getting this team conditioned and ready for the World Cup. We have specifically worked to identify people we feel will do well in the sub-continent as opposed to form within South African conditions. I am very confident that this team has got some way to go,” he added.

That Tahir hasn’t yet played an international game, Hudson insisted, wasn’t a factor at all when it came to World Cup selection.

 “We think he is a unique talent,” he said. “It’s difficult to play him under these conditions and it’s difficult to play two spinners in South African conditions. We will possibly look to play him in the next few games.”

Jacques Kallis, nursing a muscle strain near the right rib cage, is expected to recover in time to lend class and balance to the side. “Jacques is undergoing rehabilitation at the moment,” team manager Mohammed Moosajee revealed. “We are confident that with four weeks to go to the World Cup, we can get him ready to partake in the World Cup. However, it’s a week-by-week process and he is being guided under the medical team with Brendon Jackson looking after him.”

The squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Morne van Wyk.

Other World Cup squads

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell,Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, KevinPietersen, Matt Prior, Ajmal Shahzad, Graeme Swann, JamesTredwell, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees, Zunaed Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Roqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Sohrawardi, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Rubel Hossain.
Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Andre Botha, Alex Cusack, Niall O’Brien (wk), Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, John Mooney, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Albert van der Merwe, Gary Wilson (wk), Andrew White, Ed Joyce. Coach: Phil Simmons.
Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (capt), Seren Waters, Alex Obanda, David Obuya, Collins Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Tanmay Mishra, Rakep Patel, Morris Ouma, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Peter Ongondo, Shem Ngoche, James Ngoche.
Netherlands: Peter Borren (capt), Wesley Baressi (wk), Mudassar Bukhari, Atse Buurman, Tom Cooper, Tom de Grooth, Alexei Kervezee, Bradley Kruger, Bernard Loots, Adeel Raja, Pieter Seelaar, Eric Swarczynski, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Berend Westdijk, Bas Zuiderent. Coach: Peter Drinnen.