Mark Boucher - Kallis's close friend and long-term team-mate

Boucher told Business Day the selectors had been wrong to eject Kallis from the squad for the ICC World Twenty20.

He said: "He's the best all-rounder we've ever had and a far better one-day player than he's given credit for.

"People either have an issue with him, or have a chip on their shoulders, or they have ulterior motives."

Kallis has resigned the vice-captaincy on Monday after being overlooked for the tournament.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola was disappointed by the player's decision to go public with his feelings about the situation.

In my off-season I have been doing some building on my house and reading about my being an alcoholic Mark Boucher

Kallis, 31, with 107 Tests and 261 one-day internationals behind him, has been linked with a possible move to English county cricket.

And he said: "Ideally I would like to play many more years for my country but this weekend caused me to question my future for the first time."

CSA's new convenor of selectors, Joubert Strydom, was more sympathetic than Majola.

He said: "I was a bit surprised [by the resignation] but Jacques must do what he must do."

Speaking to iol.co.za, Joubert went on: "I spoke to him personally before we announced the team and he was very good to me.

CSA still want Kallis in the green-and-gold of the ODI team

"He told me he respected the decision, but that he would have to reconsider his position in general and how long he still wanted to play.

"There are long-term strategic decisions that I have to take. We have 11 Test and 11 one-day matches coming up in the next 18 months.

"Jacques is the cornerstone of our Test and one-day teams. We felt that because of what he brings to the Test and one-day teams, it wasn't worthwhile sacrificing him in the Twenty20."

Boucher, in his wide-ranging interview, also poured scorn on allegations about a drinking culture in the camp and the existence of a senior players' clique.

He said: "In my off-season I have been doing some building on my house and reading about my being an alcoholic.

"I see pictures of myself and Herschelle [Gibbs] sitting at a pool-side bar and the accompanying article talks about how drinking is out of hand.

"It's all ridiculous."