Tahir is set to feature in the upcoming tour of India

South Africa have withdrawn Imran Tahir from their squad for the final Test against England amid fears he is not yet eligible to play.

The former Pakistan A leg-spinner, who is married to a South African, was called up on Friday.

But the 30-year-old's permanent residence papers have not yet come through so he will have to sit out.

"Cricket South Africa would rather be absolutely certain of his eligibility before playing him," said a spokesman.

"We have to be 100% certain before putting him in a national squad."

Tahir was one of two uncapped members called into the squad, alongside left-arm paceman Wayne Parnell.

Batsman Alviro Petersen and all-rounder Ryan McLaren were also added to the XI who were held to a draw at Newlands on Thursday, leaving the hosts 1-0 down in the series.

The final Test in the four-match series starts in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Tahir, who has represented English county sides Hampshire, Middlesex and Yorkshire over recent years and will play for Warwickshire next summer, is still likely to come into the equation for the Proteas' forthcoming tour of India.

Parnell, 20, has been a limited-overs regular for South Africa and is currently on the books of Kent.

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After rueing a lack of "punch" in the drawn third Test, skipper Graeme Smith and the selectors have rung the changes.

Friedel de Wet is also included despite a back problem, but veteran Makhaya Ntini misses out on the squad entirely.

Ntini's omission comes after he was dropped for the third Test following a poor return of 2-232 in the first two Tests, and looks likely to signal the end of his Test career.

Concerns surrounding De Wet, who was kept out of action for most of the final day at Newlands with a back problem, and spinner Paul Harris has prompted South Africa to consider their attacking options.

Harris's return of 11 wickets in the series at an average of 40.36 is well off England spinner Graeme Swann's figures of 19 wickets at 29.78.

South Africa squad:
GC Smith (captain), HM Amla, MV Boucher (wkt), AB de Villiers, F de Wet, JP Duminy, PL Harris, JH Kallis, R McLaren, M Morkel, WD Parnell, AN Petersen, AG Prince, DW Steyn.

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