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De Kock Included In South Africa World Cup Squad

by Andrew Wood Wednesday 7 January 2015

South Africa are confident Quinton de Kock will be fit for the 2015 World Cup

©REUTERS / Action Images

Wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock is South Africa's only injury concern ahead of the Cricket World Cup 2015 and he has been included in their 15-man squad for the competition.

De Kock will sit out the One-Day International series against the West Indies which gets underway next week (16th January).

While Morne van Wyk will deputise for him in that series, he is expected to be fully fit by the time South Africa take on Zimbabwe in their opening World Cup Pool B match on 15th February.

"Our medical committee has backed his inclusion in the squad at this stage so there is confidence that he will be ready for the tournament," Cricket South Africa selection committee convenor Andrew Hudson said.

The Proteas also play India (22nd February), West Indies (27th February), Ireland (3rd March), Pakistan (7th March) and United Arab Emirates (12th March).

Eight of the players selected in the squad have previous World Cup experience and they have opted to go with two specialist spinners in leg-spinner Imran Tahir and left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, meaning Robin Peterson, a veteran of campaigns in 2003, 2007 and 2011, misses out.

Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn comprise a formidable pace battery as the Proteas bid for their maiden World Cup success.

The closest they have come so far is the semi-finals in 1992, 1999 and 2007.

AB de Villiers, among world cricket's most in-form players at the moment, will lead the side with Hashim Amla his vice-captain.

JP Duminy, who missed the Test series against the West Indies with a knee injury, is also included in the 15-man squad.

South Africa World Cup squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla (vice-captain), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn