Batsman Herschelle Gibbs and spinner Nicky Boje have been dropped from the South African team that will tour India for a one-day international series in November, the country's cricket board announced on Monday.
The names of Gibbs and Boje cropped up in connection with the match-fixing scandal that had involved late South African captain Hansie Cronze during the Proteas' tour of India five years ago.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa said in a statement that Gibbs and Boje had been excluded from the team because the Indian police had not clarified its intention regarding the two players.
The CBI had indicated last year that they had not dropped their investigations and could not give any guarantee that Gibbs and Boje would not be interrogated in connection with the match-fixing case.
Both Gibbs, the right-handed batsman, and Boje, are said to fear arrest by Delhi Police in connection with the case.
The United Cricket Board said the clarity about the status of the players had been sought by the Board, the South African Cricketers Association and the two players' legal advisors.
The CEO of South African Cricket Gerald Majola said that in view of the latest developments there was no other option but to drop the players for the tour.
"The attempts (to get a clarity on Indian Police's position regarding the two players) have included an approach through diplomatic channels as well as a meeting between the Delhi police and Delhi-based lawyers appointed to represent the players", said Tony Irish, secretary of the South African Players' Association.
"There has been a considerable amount of effort put into this, especially in the past few weeks. Despite this, however, we are still not able to determine the intentions of the police and whether or not the safety and freedom of these players can be guaranteed.
"It's extremely unfortunate because it's very clear to me that Nicky has never done anything wrong and the Indian police won't tell us what they think he may have done wrong. He also co-operated with all requirements given to us by the police prior to last year's tour and it's difficult to understand what else he can possibly do now," Irish said.
"As far as Herschelle is concerned, he paid for what he did years ago by serving a ban which was sanctioned by the ICC at the time", he added.
Majola said "we realise that there isn't much choice in the current circumstances and it is disappointing that Nicky and Herschelle cannot join the team. We thank SACA and the players' legal advisors for doing whatever they could in the time available," he added.
