South Africa's selectors have stuck with the players tested during the recent home series against India and Bangladesh for the Under-19s World Cup in Malaysia even though they failed to register a win in any of the Tests or the earlier triangular tournament.

"The squad was selected from a group of players that was part of a two-year programme," Shafiek Abrahams, the chief U-19s selector, said. "They were identified during the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week and the camps that were set up under our structures during the season. And they appear to have now matured steadily and made progress in their quest to represent South Africa at the higher level."

Wayne Parnell, the left-arm fast bowler, will lead the team, and he will be confident after a five-wicket haul in the second Test against India. Ray Jennings, the former South Africa coach, will guide the side, assisted by Grant Morgan and Henry Williams.

Gerald Majola, the Cricket South Africa chief executive, was looking forward to a good showing from the team despite the U-19s having reached the final of the World Cup only once, in Australia in 2002, where they lost to New Zealand.

"We feel that the boys have the energy and motivation under the guidance of Ray Jennings and his assistants to make it to the semi-finals," Majola said. "It's been a long time since we took a significant step in this tournament."

The squad will take part in a training camp from February 6 before leaving for Malaysia on February 9. South Africa begin the tournament with a group encounter against West Indies on February 18 in Kuala Lumpur.

South Africa U-19s World Cup squad
Wayne Parnell (capt), Roy Adams, Matthew Arnold, Clayton August, Bradley Barnes (wk), Daniel Childs, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Reeza Hendricks, Pieter Malan, Mangaliso Mosehle, Obus Pienaar, Rilee Rossouw, JJ Smuts, Yaseen Vallie, Johnathan Vandiar.