Dane van Niekerk will be seen in a new role after she was controversially left out of the South Africa squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2023 18:33 IST
South African cricketer dropped from the side joins WT20 WC commentary panel. Courtesy: Dane van Niekerk Instagram
By India Today Web Desk: South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk has joined the commentary panel for the upcoming edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup after being left out of the South Africa 15-member squad. Van Niekerk hasn’t played international cricket since September 2021 due to her issues with her ankle.
She also missed the 50-over World Cup last year in New Zealand because of the injury she sustained. Last year, she played a few games for the Oval Invincibles in the Women’s Hundred, after which she hasn’t played any form of competitive cricket.
After not finding a place in the South Africa squad, van Niekerk dropped a post, writing “Absolutely BROKEN…” Her spouse Marizanne Kapp, who will be playing in the World Cup, was also not happy after van Niekerk failed to find a place in the national team.
Kapp didn’t play in the tri-series final against India after she took “compassionate leave” for her spouse. But she is back with the national team and is set to play in her team’s opening match against Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka on February 10 at Newlands in Cape Town.
Showing full support for her spouse, Kapp wrote, “Emotional couple of days, I am a wife FIRST and then a cricketer. Thank you CSA for affording me the opportunity to be home to support my wife and see the family, as I mentally refresh and prepare for the T20 World Cup. It has always been my biggest honour to represent my country.”
It was learned that van Niekerk was left out due to fitness issues. On leaving out van Niekerk, Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng said that fitness requirements remain “non-negotiable”.
Vam Niekerk failed to complete a two-kilometre run on time and hence, failed to make the cut. Even as she notched a personal best of 9 minutes 48 seconds, the selection criterion was 9.30 minutes.
