Kallis turns down Durham

Durham have given up hope of signing Jacques Kallis, the South Africa allrounder, as a replacement for Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Kallis was left out of South Africa's squad for the ICC World Twenty20 next week. But although Durham reportedly tried to entice him with an attractive pay deal, Kallis has turned it down.

"Players of his quality are few and far between," Geoff Cook, the Durham coach said, "and there are also problems with work permits."

Durham have three matches left this season in their pursuit for the Championship title. Chanderpaul, the West Indies batsman, spent a month at the club following his side's tour of England and notched five fifties in nine matches.