THE preliminary Davis Cup squad of five players for the World Group playoff against India at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena from September 18 to 20 was announced yesterday - predictably without the country's top player, Kevin Anderson, who had made himself unavailable for the crucial tie.

THE preliminary Davis Cup squad of five players for the World Group playoff against India at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena from September 18 to 20 was announced yesterday - predictably without the country's top player, Kevin Anderson, who had made himself unavailable for the crucial tie.

But team captain John-Laffnie de Jager dropped a bombshell when he revealed he would not select Anderson if South Africa beat India and qualified for a coveted World Group Davis Cup place next year for the first time in almost a decade.

"Kevin might have his personal reasons, but from a South African perspective I am bitterly disappointed with his decision," De Jager said.

"He won't be among the players considered when I get down to the business of choosing the next squad."

De Jager's selection is Rik de Voest, Izak van der Merwe, Jeff Coetzee, Wesley Moodie and Raven Klaasen, with De Voest and Van der Merwe the likely singles selections when the squad is reduced to four players in accordance with ITF rules and Moodie and Coetzee possibly reunited as the doubles combination. Moodie terminated a partnership with Coetzee earlier in the year.

But De Jager said there would be no problems again, "if I consider them the best choice against India's combination of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi".

Booking for the Davis Cup tie will open at Computicket on Monday, with seating at R75 for the two days of singles on Friday and Sunday and R65 for the doubles on Saturday. - Sapa