South Africa's much-maligned cricket selectors will be replaced by a four-man panel within the next two weeks, UCB chief Gerald Majola has said. Majola said the newly formed National Cricket Committee (NCC) would make a recommendation to the Board's general council after the country's nine provinces had submitted their nominations for the panel.

Majola made the announcement as the UCB was formally split into a professional and amateur wing.

The NCC was formed following a brain-storming session on Monday to address the problems that have blighted the national side as they prepare for the 2003 World Cup.

The NCC, which includes former Test players Andrew Hudson, Craig Matthews, Omar Henry and Pat Symcox as well as Haroon Lorgat and Imraan Munshie, will also review the structure of the national management team that includes the coaching staff.

"Once the new panel has been approved, they will select within a week approximately 25 players as part of an initial training squad for next year's World Cup," said Majola.

The management structure will, however, only be reviewed completely by the beginning of June, meaning that the training squad will be in the care of the current management structure.

South Africa's incumbent six-man selection panel, convened by Rushdie Magiet, has attracted some vehement criticism, which intensified in the second half of the summer as Australia hammered South Africa in both the Tests and limited-overs matches.

Current members, however, are not precluded from being part of the new panel. Percy Sonn, the Board's president, added that position of captain Shaun Pollock would also be reviewed.

"We'll be looking at the captaincy and we need advice on it," said Sonn.

"If the incumbent falls short then action will be taken. However, if he doesn't fall short, we won't."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd