Kallis opts out of playing in Champion's Trophy for SA

Jacques Kallis has been left out of South Africa's squad for next month's Champions Trophy, the first time in years the veteran allrounder won't play at a major one-day tournament for his country.

Jacques Kallis has been left out of South Africa's squad for next month's Champions Trophy, the first time in years the veteran allrounder won't play at a major one-day tournament for his country.

HT Image

Head selector Andrew Hudson says Kallis asked to be left out of the 15-man group citing personal reasons. Hudson says it's "a little too early to speculate" if Kallis' one-day international career is over, with the 37-year-old having often talked of his desire to play at the 2015 World Cup.

South Africa included JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis after the pair recovered from injury to make the squad, while AB de Villiers was retained as captain.

However, much of the interest will now focus on the ODI future of Kallis, who made his debut in 1996.