Shaun Pollock has been sacked as South African skipper on the recommendation of the national selectors.
Pollock, 29, was dismissed after meeting the selectors on Friday.
A statement from the United Cricket Board of South Africa said it had been decided to strip Pollock of the captaincy with immediate effect.
"An announcement Sunday will name a replacement captain," the statement said.
According to sources the selectors had asked Pollock to stand down voluntarily but he refused and asked the selectors to sack him.
Pollock told rediff.com, "I did not offer to step down. I will explain my position at a press conference on Sunday."
"Shaun is a valuable member of the national squad and one of the world's best all rounders," said UCBSA chief executive Gerald Majola. "He will continue to play a vital role in the team."
According to Logan Naidu, the president of the Natal Province and member of the General Council, 21-year-old Graeme Smith will be named as Pollock's replacement.
"We feel for Shaun and are behind him. It is an unfortunate decision. You need to make decisions sooner rather than later. The timing is not important whether we went about it the right way is the important thing," he said.
The issue of the vice-captaincy of the national team will be addressed by the National Cricket Committee on March 27 and by the General Council on March 29.
Former South African coach Bob Woolmer was shocked to hear the news and told rediff.com it was a ridiculous decision.
"You can't back someone and then sack him a week later," he said.
"Omar Henry (the chairman of selectors) was backing him to the hilt and has now gone and sacked him. It is another case of mismanagement and whoever made the decision needs to be pulled up," he added.
Graeme Smith who is most likely to succeed him will at 21 be the youngest skipper ever to lead a national side. He has yet to play a Test outside the country and was not in the original squad for the World Cup.
Former South African legend Barry Richards also questioned the move and asked why such a knee-jerk reaction was required.
"It seems there is some dissension in the team and it will come out in the open soon. The system needs to be questioned more than the skipper," he said.
He agreed that Smith was the obvious choice and had the temperament and ability to lead the side.
"But does he merit a place in the side? Why wasn't he picked in the World Cup squad originally?" he asked.