• Dane van Niekerk was overlooked for South Africa's squad for the Women's T20 World Cup 2023.

  • Van Niekerk was excluded after failing to meet the fitness requirements of CSA.

Marizanne Kapp, Dale Steyn react to Dane van Niekerk’s omission from South Africa Women’s T20 World Cup squad
Dale Steyn, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk (Image Source: Twitter)

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Cricket South Africa (CSA), on Tuesday, announced the squad for the highly-anticipating Women’s T20 World Cup, slated to be played from February 10 to February 26 in the rainbow nation. However, the exclusion of star all-rounder and regular skipper Dane van Niekerk from the Proteas’ squad for the multi-team event stirred social media, with fans and experts left wondering why Van Niekerk was not picked in the outfit.

Notably, Clinton du Preez, the women’s selection convener of CSA, explained the reason behind the absence of Van Niekerk, mentioning that the Pretoria-born cricketer didn’t meet the fitness requirements for the 2-kilometre time trial, which is the minimum criteria for the fitness benchmark.

“Dane was given an extensive opportunity to meet the minimum criteria for the fitness benchmark. She recently did another fitness test and did not meet the minimum criteria, and that’s why she has missed out. Dane did not meet the minimum requirement for the 2-kilometre time trial. The management assisted her into trying to get there, but she did not meet the minimum requirement,” said Du Preez in a presser.

Soon after the squad announcement, Van Niekerk, who last appeared for South Africa in September 2021, described herself as ‘broken’.

Leading all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who is married to Van Niekerk and was selected for the World Cup, termed Van as the best captain in world cricket before saying the Lord has better plans and she will be missed.

“One of the best captains in world cricket Jy gaan gemis word! Die Here het groter planne!” tweeted Kapp.

Former South Africa men’s fast bowler, Dale Steyn, also reacted by taking a dig at CSA for their 2-kilometre run trial. He wrote: “Oh f**k, I missed my 2km time by seconds, must mean I’m sh*t.”

South Africa Women’s squad for T20 World Cup:

Sune Luus (capt), Chloe Tryon (vice-capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Delmi Tucker, Annerie Dercksen.

Non-traveling reserves: Micaéla Andrews, Tebogo Macheke, Tumi Sekhukhune

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