Former captain Dane van Niekerk said Tuesday he was “heartbroken” after being left out of South Africa’s squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup in his home country.
According to her chief selector Clinton Du Her Please, the 29-year-old did not meet her minimum fitness standards and she was unable to compete in the tournament, which began in Cape Town on February 10.
“Dane was given ample opportunity to meet minimum standards or fitness her benchmarks,” he said.
In one of her tests of fitness, a female cricketer must run 2 kilometers in 9 minutes and 30 seconds. ESPN Cricinfo reported that fans Niekerk missed her target by 18 seconds.
“It’s purely based on the not meeting of the fitness criteria that she’s missed out,” said du Preez.
Van Niekerk, who was named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year last year, has long been regarded as one of South Africa’s leading players as a top-order batter, leg-break bowler and respected captain.
She broke an ankle in an accident at home in November 2021 and has not played in international cricket since then, although she did feature in The Hundred in England last year.
Van Niekerk posted an Instagram picture soon after the team was announced with the caption, “Absolutely BROKEN.”
Leading all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who is married to Van Niekerk and was selected for the World Cup, retweeted her wife’s post with the caption, “One of the best captains in world cricket.”
She continued in Afrikaans, “You will be missed.” Kapp added a heart emoji and another denoting a broken heart.
Van Niekerk missed selection for a triangular tournament involving India and West Indies earlier this month but it had been widely expected she would return for the World Cup. While the 3 series was going on, Van Niekerk posted a photo of herself hitting the net in East London, stating “it’s been a tough two weeks” and asking for help to get her healthy again. I thanked the people who
Her media reaction overwhelmingly favored Van Her Niekerk. Fast bowler Dale Stein commented, “I missed 2K by seconds. That must mean I failed.”
Sune Luus will be captain of the South African team at the World Cup.