Gibbs, Nel left out of SA squad

The trio of Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini have returned to the South African squad for the three-Test tour of India starting later this month.

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who took career-best figures of five for 33 in South Africa's innings victory over Bangladesh in the second Test, retained his place in the squad which has Ashwell Prince as Graeme Smith's deputy.

Peterson's good form saw him joining another left-armer Paul Harris in the touring party with Johan Botha being the unlucky player to miss out.

The squad has no place for out of form Herschelle Gibbs, who was not part of the Test series in Bangladesh as well.

Kallis, Boucher and Ntini were rested for the one-day series against the minnows.

Ntini's return will strengthen South Africa's pace attack which also has Dale Steyn in fine form with man-of-the-series awards in his country's previous three Test series.

Swing bowler Charl Langeveldt, who has not played a Test for more than two years, also finds a spot at the expense of Andre Nel.

The 14-man squad has six non-white players, thanks to the inclusion of Peterson and Langeveldt, the other four being Ntini, Hashim Amla, Prince and JP Duminy.

Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse last month had refused to approve the squad originally chosen for  the Bangladesh tour, which included only four coloured players before Peterson was drafted in place of Harris who had to undergo surgery.

That resulted in a stand-off between Arendse and coach Mickey Aurthur which was resolved only when a CSA extraordinary general council meeting worked out a strategy to make the team more racially representative.

The Proteas take on India in three Tests to be played in Chennai, Ahmedabad and Kanpur.

South Africa will travel directly from Bangladesh to India, with the first Test starting on March 26.

The Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, J P Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn.