Gulam Bodi to replace Boje in West Indies

KwaZulu-Natal left-arm wrist spinner Gulam Bodi (22) has been selected to replace Nicky Boje in the South African squad for the One-Day International series in the West Indies.

"Gulam has had a very good season and he deserves his selection. The team needs a spinner who can bat and he has done that job very well for KwaZulu-Natal during the season. I'm very excited for him and I am sure he'll do well," said the convener of national selectors, Rushdi Magiet.

Bodi took 18 wickets in the domestic Standard Bank Cup this season at an average of 22.27 (best 5-46). He scored 283 runs in the competition (best 106*) and earned an average of 25.72 with one century and one half-century.

Bodi is currently playing club cricket for Leyland and Sarington in the Lancashire League in England and will fly from there to Jamaica on Sunday to join the squad. He said today he was thrilled to be selected. "I am over the moon. I'm really pumped up and ready to go. It's all still sinking in but I'm really excited and ready to do my best," he said.