Hashim Amla recalled in SA Twenty20 sqaud

South Africa on Wednesday recalled Hashim Amla in the 12-man squad for the one-off Twenty20 international against India in Durban.

Amla was finally rewarded for his good performance with the bat.

The Twenty20 match will also be Makhaya Ntini’s last in South African colours. Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have been rested while opener Loots Bosman has made way for Amla.

“We have decided to rest Kallis, Steyn and Morkel because of the heavy workload they have had in the Test series and the important roles they will have to play in the ODI series against India as well as in the World Cup,” Andrew Hudson, the convenor of selectors, said.

This will only be Amla’s third T20, after he played two games came against Australia last year. Amla has been in terrific form this year, and averages 75.57 from 15 one-dayers with five centuries and four half-centuries.

Ntini announced his retirement from international cricket in November and his last game for South Africa was the Boxing Day Test of 2009 against England, after which he was dropped from the side.

The match will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, one of the venues for the football World Cup, on January 9 and will inaugurate the Krish Mackerdhuj Trophy, commemorating the first arrival of Indians in South Africa 150 years ago.

South African Squad: Johan Botha (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, David Miller, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.