Fast bowler Allan Donald has been withdrawn from South Africa's tour of Zimbabwe as a consequence of what seems to be a remarkably virulent dose of flu.

With the first Test match against Zimbabwe scheduled to start in Harare on Friday, the South African selectors were casting about on Monday morning for a replacement for Donald.

Donald attended the recent bowling camp in Johannesburg as well as the South African training camp last week, but on Sunday he was feeling so ill that he was sent home to Bloemfontein to recover.

According to selection convener Rushdie Magiet, it has been decided to leave Donald behind.

"Allan's very keen to play in the Test matches this summer, and we're very keen to have him in the Test side," said Magiet. "So we think it would be best for him to stay behind and get himself fully fit."

Magiet, however, was unable to say why Donald was unable to travel to Zimbabwe and work in the nets once he is over his flu. He also did not wish to speculate on Donald's fitness at the training camp.

Donald, however, was quoted on Monday by the Afrikaans daily Die Volksblad as saying that he did not believe he was fit enough to play in a Test match. "I also have not had any practice," Die Volksblad reports him as saying.

The absence of Donald may open the way for Andre Nel to make his Test debut. Nel is the extra fast bowler named in the South African squad and would seem the logical choice to replace Donald.

Certainly, if another fast bowler is called up and plays in Harare ahead of Nel it would represent something of a slap in the face for the Easterns seamer. It would also suggest that the selectors believe they got it wrong when they announced their original 13-man party.

The other option is to use Jacques Kallis to open the bowling with Justin Kemp coming into the side. This combination was used in the West Indies earlier this year when Donald was injured.

© CricInfo