Langeveldt replaces Donald on Zimbabwe tour

Boland's right-arm medium fast bowler Charl Langeveldt (26) has been selected to replace Allan Donald on South Africa's tour to Zimbabwe.

Donald has a bad dose of flu and will not be travelling to Zimbabwe with the squad on Wednesday. He will definitely not take part in the two Test matches or the first One Day International on September 23 in Bulawayo. However, the convenor of national selectors, Rushdi Magiet, said today that if Donald had recovered he could be considered for the squad for the last two ODIs. The selection panel meets on September 24 to choose the squad for the second and third ODIs which take place on September 29 and 30 in Harare.

"Langeveldt was second on the SuperSport Series bowling averages last season, and the reports from the recent bowling clinic were very positive about him. He was also selected for the South Africa A side for the aborted tour to India. He also toured the West Indies with the 'A' side last year, so he has been around for a while," said Magiet.

Langeveldt took 21 wickets in the SuperSport Series last season at an average of 17.09. He said today that he was excited, but shocked, about his selection. "I have worked really hard in the off-season on my fitness and during the bowling clinic I tried to alter my action slightly to be more front-on so that I could get the ball to swing late," he said. "I had been hoping to be considered for the national squad later in the season, so this is a very pleasant surprise," Langeveldt added.

The team leaves for Zimbabwe from Johannesburg International Airport at 11.45am on Wednesday and the first Test is scheduled to start on Friday September 7.