Johannesburg - Surprises were few and far between when South Africa's preliminary Cricket World Cup squad of 30 players was announced on Tuesday.

Haroon Lorgat, convener of the selectors, said that with the exception of two or three players the World Cup team of 15 had been finalised.

The team to compete in the tournament in the West Indies in March and April will be announced on February 15.

Left-arm spinner Paul Harris, who did not play in a single one-day match for the Titans this season, can be regarded as one of the surprise inclusions in the preliminary squad.

Lorgat justified it by saying Harris was one of those players who "just look if they belong at this level".

"We picked him solely on his performance in the one Test match he has played (against India in Cape Town last week), but we believe he is a player who belongs at international level."

Hashim Amla didn't make it

Free State's Boeta Dippenaar is also in the squad, as is Vernon Philander, who played a major role to help the Cobras win the domestic one-day competition.

Also included were Morné van Wyk, another star of the domestic series, Justin Ontong and Alviro Petersen.

Hashim Amla, a member of the Test team against India and Pakistan, did not make the squad.

Room was made, however, for Johan Botha, who has not played for the Proteas since being suspended by the International Cricket Council for an illegal bowling action.

Botha has since been reinstated, but Proteas coach Mickey Arthur has said the spinner will first be given an opportunity to make his mark at domestic level, where he will be under less pressure.

Three matches in Zimbabwe

It is expected that the squad to be chosen later this month for the five one-day matches against Pakistan will be largely retained for the World Cup tournament.

SA captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday: "We would like it to be the team that will play together and become a unit before the World Cup."

A team to be captained by Robin Peterson will play three matches in Zimbabwe between January 25 and 28.

Good performances may enable one or two players to force their way into the World Cup squad.

The preliminary World Cup squad: Graeme Smith ©, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Garnett Kruger, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath and Morné van Wyk.

The 14 to tour Zimbabwe are: Bosman, Dippenaar, Duminy, Kemp, Langeveldt, Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson ©, Philander, Telemachus, Thomas, Tshabalala, Van der Wath and Van Wyk.

That said, i dont like Amla much (and no, not because he is Muslim or whatever - I just dont like him )

Lorgat justified it by saying Harris was one of those players who "just look if they belong at this level".

Klusener should be in our current test squad. Over the last couple of seasons he has been at the top of both the batting and bowling figures in both 1 dayers and 4 dayers. He has bowled more overs than any other bowler as well! The reason he won't ever be in the team again, is because SMITH doesn't like him. To me that is total BS, and Smith should learn to live with Klusener, specially when it could make him the FIRST SA captain to win the WC!?!?!?

Lorgat is a bit of an idjit though.

I would love to know if Amla accepts cheques from castle

He does not! I remember reading about Amla in the newspapers when he made his test debut.
He respectfully asked to not have any Catle Lager logos on any of his clothing. His request was approved.

who do you think pays the players? pays for their acomodation? their food? their flights overseas etc?

Why?

Ok checkit. I pay you to advertise my website. You accept payment, and then refuse to advertise the website. Whats the difference?