South Africa outline World Cup plans

Graeme Smith and Mickey Arthur are planning for the World Cup © Getty Images

Cricket South Africa have announced their plans to prepare the national team for the 2007 World Cup. Gerald Majola, the CEO, outlined a strategic plan which includes a 25-man training squad, a 16-man squad for the Emerging Players tournament in Australia and the addition of Jonty Rhodes as a specialist ODI coach until after the World Cup.

Majola said: "This strategic plan is aimed at leaving no stone unturned in order the give the Proteas the very best preparation available. We have appointed an executive committee comprising Haroon Lorgat (convenor of selectors), Mickey Arthur (coach), Graeme Smith (captain), Vince van der Bijl (professional cricket general manager) and myself as CSA CEO.

"Our job will be to see that all relevant stakeholders, including specialist coaches and ground staff, are involved to bring a single-minded focus on preparing players who are potential final squad members.

"We will be using all the expertise at our disposal in this plan. For instance, we have added Jonty Rhodes to the Proteas management team as an ODI specialist from now until after the World Cup".

Rhodes has been helping Pakistan in recent weeks but now returns to his home country on a longer-term deal. Majola also added that the squad of 25 players will receive individual training programmes from Proteas trainer, Adrian le Roux but it is my no means a closed shop as far as World Cup selection is concerned.

"It must be stressed that the final World Cup squad of 15 will not necessarily be picked from these players only, " he explained. "We have also chosen a 16-man squad to take part in the 2006 Emerging Player Tournament in Australia in July, involving India, Australia and New Zealand.

"The national selection panel selected players with high potential to play at international level, and the squad includes both experienced and young players."

Majola said that the new think-tank committee would also plan around the upcoming five international tournaments to prepare for the World Cup. As well as the Emerging Players tour to Australia, South Africa tour Sri Lanka in August, take part in the Champions Trophy October, then host India and Pakistan for full tours from November to January.

Mickey Arthur, the coach, will also head up a specialist cricket committee to plan tactics and strategies. This committee will begin their meetings next month. Majola explained: "We have been working closely with the national selectors, the high performance programme and the national squad and this team work is going intensify even further".

25-man training squad, Graeme Smith, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jaques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Loots Bosman, Ashwell Prince, Nicky Boje, Roger Telemachus, Charl Langerveld, Garnett Kruger, Dale Steyn, Johan van der Wath, Andre Nel, Justin Ontong, Alfonso Thomas, Johan Botha, Monde Zondeki, Albie Morkel

Emerging Players Squad Neil McKenzie, Loots Bosman, Alviro Peterson, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Robin Peterson, Thami Tsolekile, Charl Langeveldt, Garnett Kruger, Monde Zondeki, Thandi Tshabalala, Davey Jacobs, Alfonso Thomas, Johan van der Wath, Morne van Wyk