Boje will continue his career at domestic level

Boje, who played 43 Tests and 115 one-day internationals, was in the squad for the game in Johannesburg.

But in a statement issued on his behalf by the South African Cricketers' Association, the 33-year-old said: "I have decided to retire immediately.

"I am accordingly unavailable as part of the Proteas squad for this season."

South Africa will not name a replacement for the first Test, national selection convenor Haroon Lorgat said.

"We're not going to replace him because, at least for the first Test, we already know what we want to do.

"And that is to use an all-seam attack at the Wanderers."

That indicates that Paul Adams' leg-spin will not be employed.

Boje took exactly 100 wickets in one-day games and 96 in Tests and was a good enough batsman to register two international centuries in the shorter form of the game.

But his career was overshadowed to some extent by the match-fixing controversy which erupted six years ago when South Africa captain Hansie Cronje admitted receiving money from bookmakers.

It is with regret that we learnt of Nicky's decision to retire Gerald Majola Cricket South Africa chief

Boje was one of four players charged by Indian police on the basis of evidence obtained by monitoring phone calls made by Cronje.

He always denied any wrong-doing but has never returned to India with the national team.

Dr Ali Bacher was chief executive of the South African board at the time and earlier this year he said: "Nicky Boje was innocent. I know that for a fact. I can read people."

Born in Bloemfontein, Boje made his international debut in 1995 and three years later helped South Africa win the inaugural Champions Trophy, then called the Wills Cup.

He had to wait until 2000 for his first Test cap on the tour to India which later proved to be Cronje's last as skipper, and justified his selection with figures of 5-83 and an innings of 85 in the second match at Bangalore.

Boje took five wickets in an innings on two other ocacsions in Tests, both during tours to Sri Lanka, but normally relied more on accuracy than sharp spin to keep batsmen in check.

He is the second player to announce his retirement from international cricket in the past week following Damien Martyn's decision to stop playing for Australia.

But unlike Martyn he will continue playing at domestic level.

Cricket South Africa chief Gerald Majola said: "It is with regret that we learnt of Nicky's decision because his inclusion in the Test squad to play against India shows that the selectors still have faith in him at this level."