The South African selectors have announced the squad for the one-off T20 against India to be played at Johannesburg on March 20, 2012, under the leadership of Johan Botha.

Earlier, South Africa played a three Twenty20 series against New Zealand and lost the first encounter by six wickets on February 17, 2012 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

The visitors bounced back in the next match played at Seddon Park, Hamilton on February 19, 2012 and beat the Black Caps by 8 wickets. They continued with the winning spree in the third and final match on February 22, 2012 at Eden Park, Auckland and won the nail biter for mere three runs as the series was grasped 2-1.

The selection convener of South Africa, Andrew Hudson believed that they should not be taken lightly by the Blue Shirts as all the guys were able to play competitive cricket. Most of the players in the announced squad took part in the T20 series and won against the Kiwis’ 2-1 as described by Hudson who said,

“They will arrive back home two days before the start of the match, having travelled halfway across the world, and we don’t believe they will be in any condition to play an international game of cricket. We still have a very strong squad for this important match, including the bulk of the players who won the T20 international series in New Zealand.”

South Africa has included a young batsman Farhaan Behardin of Titans and the wicket keeper Dane Vilas who represents Cape Cobras.

Farhaan Behardien was born on October 9, 1983, a right hand batsman and a right arm medium fast bowler. He has represented Titans, Western Province and has emerged as a promising player who has done well at the domestic level.

The 28-year-old has played 44 T20 matches in domestic cricket, scored 707 runs at an average of 28.28, the best of 70 with three fifties.

Dane Vilas was born on June 10, 1985 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, a right hand batsman, an efficient wicketkeeper and has played for Lions, Cape Cobras and Gauteng. He is knocking at the doors of international cricket since long and has performed well at the domestic circuit.

The 26-year-old has taken part in 34 T20 games, scored 835 runs averaging 41.75 runs, the best of unbeaten 71 with six fifties. He has taken 15 catches and stumped six batsmen with his acrobatic wicketkeeping.

The Proteas are busy in the Test series against New Zealand and they will arrive back home a couple of days prior to the encounter and almost all of them except Jacques Kallis have been given rest. Andrew Hudson further commented,

“We are leaving all the players out who are involved in the current Test match against New Zealand with the exception of Jacques Kallis, for whom there are special circumstances.”

Johan Botha was handed over the captaincy after Graeme Smith surrendered from the leadership on August 10, 2010 but it was AB de Villiers who led them in the recently concluded three T20 series against New Zealand.

The 29-year-old is a brilliant all rounder, has played 31 T20s for the Proteas and has captured 32 wickets at an excellent average of 20.90 runs per wicket with the best of 3 for 16. He has scored 193 runs averaging 19.30 with the best of 34 while batting lower down in the order.

South African squad: Johan Botha (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk (wkt), Dane Vilas (wkt).