Cricket SA (CSA) on Friday named three new caps in the Proteas' squad for the New Age Cup T20 International match to be played against India at the Wanderers Stadium next Friday.
Titans batsman Farhaan Behardien and Cape Cobras wicketkeeper Dane Vilas received their first call-ups in any international format while Faf du Plessis will be making his international debut in the T20 format.
Johan Botha of the Warriors will lead the side in the absence of AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla.
CSA's selection convener Andrew Hudson said they had left all the players out who were involved in the current Test match against New Zealand with the exception of Jacques Kallis, for whom there were special circumstances.
“They will arrive back home two days before the start of the match, having travelled halfway across the world, including a 10-hour time difference,” Hudson said.
“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.”
Hudson said the three new players had all done extremely well in the domestic T20 series and the selectors were following CSA's policy of rewarding good domestic form.
Behardien, who is first, and Vilas, third, upped the batting averages for the T20 Challenge series and also had imposing strike rates.
“We have chosen a squad of 13 as there is some doubt about the fitness of Kallis, who has been ruled out of the current Test match,” he said.
“The team management needs to have plenty of options available such as Kallis' all-round value to the side.”
The Proteas T20 squad is: Johan Botha (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morné van Wyk and Dane Vilas. – Sapa