DURBAN, Nov 1: Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje have lost their places for South Africa’s final two one-day games against New Zealand after deciding not to tour India. Gibbs and Boje withdrew from the tour party playing five One-day Internationals in India next month because of fears they would be detained by Delhi police investigating match-fixing.

Andrew Hall and Albie Morkel have replaced Gibbs and Boje in the squad to play New Zealand in one-dayers in Durban and Centurion on Friday and Sunday respectively.

South Africa have an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

“It’s rather unfortunate, but we needed to face reality, make the tough decisions and look ahead at our tour of India,” selection convenor Haroon Lorgat said on Tuesday.

“Ideally we need to slot in our replacements now, re-define roles in the absence of the two established players, and ready ourselves for India.”

Batsman Gibbs was banned for six months and fined for agreeing to under-perform in a one-day international in Nagpur in March, 2000.

Hansie Cronje, the late South African captain who was banned for life for his involvement in cricket corruption, relayed the offer to Gibbs.

Spinner Boje’s name was mentioned in telephone conversations between Cronje and figures in cricket’s gambling underworld, although no evidence implicating Boje has yet been discovered.

The Indian police had asked to interview Gibbs and Boje during South Africa’s tour.

Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher, A.B. de Villiers, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph.—Reuters