South Africa World Cup squad: Hashim Amla's form, fast bowler injuries the concern

South Africa will on Thursday (April 18) announce their 15-man squad for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The deadline to submit final squads for the World Cup is April 23, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have announced that they will do so a week before.

The main issue surrounding the make-up of South Africa's World Cup squad is the form of veteran batsman Hashim Amla, whose place in the ODI team is reportedly in doubt.

Amla, 36, managed to score only 51 runs in four innings in South Africa's Test series defeat to Sri Lanka earlier this year and did not play in the first three ODIs against the tourists, although CSA stressed he had not been dropped. Amla was due to play the final two ODIs versus Sri Lanka but withdrew because his father was seriously ill.

Amla is South Africa s fourth-highest run-getter in ODIs with 7910, and his 27 hundreds are a national record. Since the start of 2018, he averages 35.26 in 16 ODI innings, with one century and three fifties. In this time, his strike-rate has been 89.35 which is marginally higher than his career strike-rate. Given his experience, Amla may get the nod for the World Cup.

Like Tahir, Dale Steyn will play his final World Cup and with a pace attack also Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius, South Africa have a good bowling unit. There are still worries over fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, who were both ruled out of the IPL recently, so if they are not passed fit then Wiaan Mulder looks likely to be named.

JP Duminy, despite his lack of List A runs, should be included. He will retire from ODIs after the World Cup.

From the batting core, one of Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen will likely join skipper Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Amla, Markram and Duminy.

Quinton de Kock will keep wicket, with Miller the backup should it be required.

South Africa likely World Cup squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), David Miller, JP Duminy, Reeza Hendricks, Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlulwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Dwaine Pretorius, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi