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Kallis to play World Twenty20

Jacques Kallis has made a return to the South Africa Twenty20 squad, having been selected in the final 15 that will travel to Sri Lanka for the World Twenty20 in September

Jacques Kallis has played only one T20I in two years: the game against India in March, organised in his honour  Associated Press
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Jacques Kallis is set to make a Twenty20 international comeback, having been selected in the South Africa squad that will travel to Sri Lanka for the World Twenty20 in September. Kallis was last a regular member of the side in mid-2010, during South Africa's tour of the West Indies.

AB de Villiers will lead the squad. Graeme Smith, who was picked in the 30 probables, has not made the final 15. Fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, who were rested for the triangular Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in June, return for the marquee tournament.

Marchant de Lange, the 21-year-old quick, has not made the squad due to injury. He had sustained a lower back injury during the Twenty20 triangular series, missing the ongoing Test series in England as a result.

"We have had basically the same squad together for the past year and many of them also produced stand-out performances at the Indian Premier League," Cricket South Africa's selection convener, Andrew Hudson, said. "[They] will have excellent preparation for the World Twenty20 by finishing the England tour with three [Twenty20] matches there. They may be playing on a different surface to that they will find in Sri Lanka, but they will be able to hone their Twenty20-specific skills."

Kallis was part of the IPL-winning Kolkata Knight Riders this year, scoring 409 runs in 17 games. He provided the team with solidity at the top of the order all through their successful campaign, and produced a vital 69 off 49 in the final, to help Knight Riders chase down 191 against Chennai Super Kings. He also put in a solid showing with the ball, aggregating 15 wickets in the tournament, to finish second on Knight Riders' bowling charts.

Jacques KallisSouth AfricaICC World Twenty20