South Africa Coach Explains Why Dane van Niekerk Won’t Play ODI World Cup In India

Former South Africa women’s skipper Dan van Niekerk had revoked her retirement from international cricket after she announced hanging up her boots in 2023. With the ODI World Cup happening in India from September 30, she was also included in the South African Women’s training camp in Durban for the upcoming three ODI series in Pakistan from September 16 and the World Cup.

However, in a recent statement to TimesLIVE, South Africa Women’s head coach Mandela Mashimbyi clarified that van Niekerk has been included in the camp so that she knows what she needs to do to be part of the team once again. Only after meeting the required fitness and performance standards will she be a part of any Proteas squad. 

“She’s definitely not part of this World Cup, she won’t be going,” Mashimbyi said, as quoted by India Today. 

“She is someone we are looking for towards the future. There are series she might be involved in, and hopefully, when she ticks all the boxes, she can showcase her skills again.

“She’s captained the team, played for a long time and been successful. The experience she carries is something we will miss. But she’s like any other player now, she needs to work her way up, earn her place again. We are exposing her to the environment so that she understands expectations, and hopefully, when she gets a call-up, she can have an impact immediately.”

Van Niekerk had failed to complete a 2-kilometre running trial in the stipulated time of nine minutes and 30 seconds in 2023, after which she wasn’t included in the side for the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa; as a result, the all-rounder announced retirement from international cricket. 

But now, after revoking her retirement, van Niekerk would hope to meet the requirements of the Proteas women's side so that the 32-year-old can finally return to the national side.