Shane Warne will miss Hampshire's pre-season trip to South Africa so he can attend the Laureus World Sports Awards next month.

Hampshire travel to Cape Town on March 26 and return on April 6, but captain Warne will miss the trip along with Michael Carberry and Chris Tremlett.

Warne will be at the eighth annual World Sports Awards in Barcelona from April 1-2 while Tremlett and Carberry will be staying behind to ensure they are fully fit for the start of the season.

Director of cricket Tim Tremlett said: "Chris will be having his back checked out, but should be fit for the start of the season. Michael experienced cramp in his arms when he was batting last season and will be having that looked at when he gets back from the England A tour of Bangladesh."

Hampshire's players report back for pre-season training on March 19 before the flight to South Africa a week later, when they will play a series of games against players from Western Province and Boland.

They begin their season with a three-day game against Cardiff UCCE at the Rose Bowl, which starts on April 14, before hosting Middlesex in the Friends Provident Trophy, formerly the C & G Trophy, on Sunday, April 22.

The first championship game is against newly- promoted Surrey at the Oval, starting on April 25.