Smith sits out Twenty20 clash

Graeme Smith is hoping to overcome his elbow injury in time to play in the first ODI

South Africa captain Graeme Smith’s return from injury has been further delayed after he was ruled out of tomorrow’s Twenty20 encounter with Bangladesh.

Smith has been nursing an elbow injury, but after missing the two one-day internationals against Kenya last week it had been hoped he would return to face the Tigers in Johannesburg.

The 27-year-old left-hander will now have to focus on making a return in the three-match one-day international series, which begins in Potchefstrom on Friday.

“Graeme is making very good progress and we are monitoring him on a day-to-day basis,” Gerald Majola, the acting selection convener, said in a statement.

“We are confident that he will return at some stage of the Bangladesh tour and we will be guided by our medical team in that regard.”

South Africa head into the game on the back of a 2-0 victory in the weekend’s one-day series against Kenya, and Smith admits the team are coping well without him.

He said: “Our one-day side has got a little bit of work to do. They’ve had a few changes recently and if you compare it to our Test team, that is really strong and had real success, so the team has some work to do.

“It’s nice to always start in a positive way and to see the youngsters like JP (Duminy) and everybody performing well, getting opportunities and taking them. It’s encouraging to me as a captain.”

Johan Botha will carry on captaining South Africa in Smith's enforced absence

“I think the fact that we went to Bangladesh (last season) in their home conditions and we beat them comprehensively gives us confidence, but I think we have respect for the game and respect for the opposition that we play against, so we are working hard.”

In Smith’s absence, Johan Botha will continue on as captain after he led the Proteas to a 2-0 series win against Kenya.

ICC Test player of the year Dale Steyn will make a return to action after overcoming a mystery illness that had caused him severe headaches since mid-September.

Fellow quick bowlers Rory Kleinveldt and Johann Louw are also included and will make their international Twenty20 debuts after the selectors opted not to replace Smith in the 12-man squad.

“We decided not to replace Smith in the squad with an additional player as we do not want to disrupt franchises who are preparing for the next round of SuperSport Series matches starting on Thursday,” Majola said.

A decision will be made prior to the game who out of Hashim Amla and Monde Zondeki will fill 12th man duties.

South Africa squad: Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors, capt), Loots Bosman (Gestetner Diamond Eagles), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Herschelle Gibbs (Nashua Cape Cobras), Rory Kleinveldt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Johann Louw (Nashua Dolphins), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Justin Ontong (Nashua Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans).