The South African selection panel has named 31 players* in a preliminary training squad in the run-up to the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

"These players will be given fitness regimes and training programmes and then, once all the team management is finalized, we will look at our strategy and decide on the camps we should bring the squad together for," said national selection panel convenor Omar Henry today.

"I must stress that this is a dynamic squad and we are sure to see many changes to it as the World Cup draws closer. Every first-class player in South Africa must continue to strive for the goal of representing his country in the World Cup next year. No player is out of sight, out of mind or out of the picture," Henry insisted. "We have named the players who we want to bring under the wing of the UCB fitness staff as an initial grouping to maintain a high level of fitness, injury prevention and focus. But anyone who plays well could still be included in this group," he added.

UCB CEO Gerald Majola complimented the selectors on the training squad. "We have here a squad which is well balanced in every way. Of course, no doors are closed and I want all our other players to know that," he said.

Percy Sonn, the President of the UCB, said the squad was filled with players that South Africa could be proud of. "Nothing is final about this squad, but our hopes and aspirations of becoming world-beaters largely rest on the shoulders of these players and on their dedication and will to win."

* The 31 players include Mfuneko Ngam who will join the squad only once he has been declared fully fit

PROVISIONAL TRAINING SQUAD FOR 2003 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP:

Paul Adams Left arm wrist spin bowler, right hand batsman Western Province Born: 20 January 1977

Hashim Amla Right hand batsman, right arm medium bowler KwaZulu-Natal Born: 13 March 1983

Dale Benkenstein Right hand batsman, right arm off-break bowler KwaZulu-Natal Born: 9 June 1974

Gulam Bodi Left arm wrist spin bowler, left hand batsman KwaZulu-Natal Born: 4 January 1979

Nicky Boje Left arm orthodox bowler, left-hand batsman Free State Born: 20 March 1973

Loots Bosman Right hand batsman Griqualand West Born: 14 April 1977

Mark Boucher Wicketkeeper, right hand batsman Border Born: 3 December 1976

Boeta Dippenaar Right hand batsman Free State Born: 14 June 1977

Allan Donald Right arm fast bowler Free State Born: 20 October 1966

Steve Elworthy Right arm fast medium bowler, right hand batsman Northerns Born: 23 February 1965

Herschelle Gibbs Right hand batsman Western Province Born: 23 February 1974

Andrew Hall Right hand batsman, right arm fast medium bowler Easterns Born: 31 July 1975

Mornantau Hayward Right arm fast bowler Eastern Province Born: 6 March 1977

Jacques Kallis Right hand batsman, right arm fast medium bowler Western Province Born: 16 October 1975

Justin Kemp Right hand batsman, right arm fast medium bowler Eastern Province Born: 2 October 1977

Gary Kirsten Left hand batsman Western Province Born: 23 November 1967

Lance Klusener Left hand batsman, right arm medium bowler KwaZulu-Natal Born: 4 September 1971

Charl Langeveldt Right arm fast medium bowler Boland Born: 17 December 1974

Neil McKenzie Right hand batsman Northerns Born: 24 November 1975

Andre Nel Right arm fast medium bowler Easterns Born: 15 July 1977

Mfuneko Ngam Right arm fast bowler Eastern Province Born: 29 January 1979 * Once the selectors have been told by the medical staff that Mfuneko Ngam is fully fit, he will be drafted into the squad.

Makhaya Ntini Right arm fast bowler Border Born: 6 July 1977

Justin Ontong Right hand batsman; right arm leg break, off-break bowler Boland Born: 4 January 1980

Shaun Pollock Right arm fast medium bowler, right hand batsman KwaZulu-Natal Born: 16 July 1973

Ashwell Prince Left hand batsman Western Province Born: 28 May 1977

Jonty Rhodes Right hand batsman KwaZulu-Natal Born: 27 July 1969

Jacques Rudolph Left hand batsman, right arm leg spin bowler Northerns Born: 4 May 1981

Graeme Smith Left hand batsman, right arm off-spin bowler Western Province Born: 1 February 1981

Roger Telemachus Right arm fast medium bowler Western Province Born: 27 March 1973

Thami Tsolekile Wicketkeeper, right hand batsman Western Province Born: 9 October 1980

Martin van Jaarsveld Right hand batsman Northerns Born: 18 June 1974

© UCBSA