JOHANNESBURG: Hashim Amla was given compassionate leave on Tuesday to missSouth Africa’s last two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, providingwhat could be a last-ditch opportunity for Reeza Hendricks to stake a claimfor a place in the country’s World Cup squad.
Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said batsman Amla had asked forleave because his father was critically ill with Hendricks replacing the35-year-old.
Amla was not selected for the first three matches of the series, all won bySouth Africa, although selection convener Linda Zondi said at the time hehad not been dropped and the selectors wanted to examine all their optionsahead of this year’s World Cup.
Opening batsman Hendricks had scores of 1, 29 and 4 in the first threematches and his World Cup chances seemed to have disappeared when he wasdropped for the last two games.
The 15-man squad appeared to be a likely choice for the global tournamentheld in England and Wales between May and July.
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Sri Lanka will be without Test match-winner Kusal Perera, who was ruled outof the last two matches with a hamstring injury suffered while fielding inthe third international in Durban on Sunday.
The last two matches are in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday and Cape Town onSaturday. – APP/AFP
