Johannesburg, Apr. 15 : South Africa have backed off-spinner Johan Botha as a key player in their Twenty20 World Cup plans despite him being placed under the scanner for suspect action.

The International Cricket Council says Botha, who was also reported following the Sydney Test of January 2006, has been cited following Monday''s fourth one-day international against Australia in Port Elizabeth.

Melbourne, Jan 11: South African cricketer John Botha, overlooked for the Test series, will lead the Proteas through the limited-overs stage of the tour, which starts with Sunday night's Twenty20 clash with Australia at the MCG.

Botha admitted that it would be difficult emulating Graeme Smith, who led South Africa to their first Test series win in Australia and then defied a broken hand and injured elbow to bat in the third Test at the SCG in a forlorn effort to force a draw, the Daily Telegraph reported.