Barlett will not back down in row

The two countries meet in Durban on 22 May - but it looks like Bartlett will miss out.

Former South Africa captain Bartlett has not heard from his country's international set-up since he declined to arrange his own visa and pay for his own air ticket to a training camp in Spain two months ago.

"I didn't go because I was asked to get my own visa and pay my own flight.

"I wasn't prepared to do that and since then they have turned around and said that I don't want to play for them. As far as I'm concerned, I'm available."

But he does not believe it is his place to make the first move towards breaking the deadlock. "Why should I, I didn't do anything wrong," he said.

I still want to play for them and I'll just have to see what happens in the future South Africa's Shaun Bartlett

Bartlett complained: "It's happened in the past but I didn't get the money back.

"Quinton Fortune had the same thing and he didn't go and I think Lucas Radebe has just had enough and is going to retire in the end.

"They have people employed to do these things so why should I do it myself?

"I still want to play for them and I'll just have to see what happens in the future.

"I have always been available to them and it's up to them whether they want to select me or not."

Bartlett believes there is a bias against players who have moved away, with home-based internationals getting preferential treatment because the club owners hold power with the South African FA.

He said: "They prefer local-based players and so do the fans back home because those are the players they see week in and week out.

"It's the pressure they get and the people they have to please.

"The people who are running the federation own the big clubs in South Africa as well so they lean towards those players.

"I'm quite happy and I'm just enjoying my football at Charlton so it's not going to be a problem to me to get worried and concerned about them."