Women’s World Cup 2025: Dane van Niekerk unretires, added to training camp

Dane van Niekerk, a former South African Women’s captain, has been named to the Women’s World Cup 2025 training team.

After last representing the country in September 2021, the all-rounder withdrew from all forms of international cricket in March 2023 due to an inability to meet Cricket South Africa’s fitness requirements.

She has been playing for Western Province on the domestic circuit and has declared herself available for selection. She was scheduled to lead the South African team at the 2022 Women’s World Cup. However, her recuperation from an ankle injury took longer than anticipated. She ultimately failed to finish the two-kilometer time trial in under 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The Pretoria native has played five matches for the Western Province the previous season, scoring 179 runs. She was also the fourth-leading run-scorer in the Pro20. She has since confirmed her willingness to represent the country again. She announced the news in a post on her official social media account on Monday, August 25.

“I’m thrilled to announce that I have decided to revoke my retirement from international cricket. The time away has reminded me just how much I have missed representing my country, and I am fully committed to giving everything to once again have that opportunity,” the cricketer wrote in a post on her Instagram account.

“I sincerely apologize to Cricket South Africa and the cricket family for how I handled my retirement, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to hopefully one day express my skills again on the international stage. I know the standards of the team and the women’s game continue to rise, and I am ready to work hard to meet them. I return with renewed energy, focus, and a deep sense of gratitude for this chance,” she mentioned in the post further.