Charl Langeveldt has made a surprising return for South Africa in a 20-man provisional squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Charl Langeveldt has made a surprising return to the international fold more than 16 months after last representing South Africa after today being named in a 20-man provisional squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.

The 34-year-old is one of five additional players that have been brought into the squad that did duty at the World Twenty20 held in England last month.

The others are Hashim Amla, Makhaya Ntini, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Vaughn van Jaarsveld, all of whom have been part of the Proteas team that has risen so rapidly in recent months.

Langeveldt, though, was an unexpected name on the list having signed a two-year Kolpak contract with county side Derbyshire in April last year.

After an outstanding opening season in England, he injured a shoulder following his participation in the Indian Premier League, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Coming back from the ashes

But the Cobras seamer, who last played a one-day international for his country against Bangladesh in Dhaka last March, now has a good chance of making the final 15-man list that is set to be named closer to the tournament.

Convenor of selectors, Mike Procter said: "Charl Langeveldt is no longer a Kolpak player and is again available for selection.

"He has recently undergone shoulder surgery and we will have to see how well he comes through that.

"It is a very good squad and it will be quite difficult to reduce it to the final 15."

The team will be led by Graeme Smith, who is one of several injured players being treated during South Africa's off-season.

Procter added: "The news on Graeme Smith's elbow surgery is extremely positive at this stage while Lonwabo Tsotsobe has made a good recovery from the knee surgery he had earlier in the year.

"We will be able to monitor his form as well as that of Vaughn van Jaarsveld on the Emerging Tour of Australia later this month.

"Hashim Amla, Herschelle Gibbs and Wayne Parnell are all playing county cricket at present but will return home in good time to prepare for the tournament."

South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Johan Botha, Yusuf Abdulla, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.