Boucher will not tour India

Boucher has been replaced by Thami Tsolekile while Hashim Amla, Zander de Bruyn and Alfonso Thomas are the other new faces in the touring party.

Herschelle Gibbs made himself unavailable for selection due to fears he may be arrested in connection with allegations of match-fixing in 2000.

However Nicky Boje, who was also implicated, has been made vice-captain.

Batsman Amla, a devout Muslim, is the first player of Asian origin to be picked by South Africa while de Bruyn and Thomas are both seam-bowling all-rounders.

Andrew Hall returns to the squad for the first time since the fourth Test against West Indies in January while Justin Ontong makes his first appearance since the tour of Australia in 2001/02.

Missing from the squad that toured Sri Lanka are Boucher, Gibbs, Nantie Hayward, Andre Nel, Lance Klusener and Andrew Puttick.

I am extremely disappointed at having to declare myself unavailable Herschelle Gibbs

Gibbs was fined �5,800 and suspended from international cricket for six months by the UCB after admitting he accepted an offer of money from then skipper Hansie Cronje before a one-day match in Nagpur.

And Gibbs' legal counsel has advised the opening batsman not to answer a recent questionnaire posed by the Delhi Police.

Gibbs, who has scored over 9,600 international runs, said: "I am extremely disappointed at having to declare myself unavailable for the tour.

"The questions sent from Delhi were very similar to those I answered four years ago. I have served my ban and in the process learnt a very hard lesson."

Boje, however, is said to be "very keen" to tour, although swing bowler Charl Langeveldt is on standby if he changes his mind.

Jacques Rudolph, who is suffering from a back injury, will undergo a fitness test before leaving.

South Africa, who were obliged to take at least four players of colour on tour, have included just one specialist spinner - an unusual policy for a tour of the subcontinent.