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Cricket fans in uproar over 'crazy' call on Dane van Niekerk for World Cup

South Africa's staggering decision on the former captain has sparked widespread anger.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read
Dane Van Niekerk, pictured here alongside Meg Lanning at the women's T20 Cricket World Cup in 2020.
Dane Van Niekerk alongside Meg Lanning at the women's T20 Cricket World Cup in 2020. (Photo by Matt King-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Cricket fans and commentators have expressed their disbelief over South Africa's shock call to leave captain Dane van Niekerk out of their squad for the T20 World Cup. The Proteas made the bombshell announcement on Tuesday night that van Niekerk hadn't met the team's fitness requirements to play at their home World Cup.

Van Niekerk has captained the South African women's side since 2016, but was left out of the squad because she failed to complete a 2km run in less than nine minutes and 30 seconds. She reportedly recoded a personal best time of 9.48, but came in 18 seconds over the maximum time allowed.

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Sune Luus has been named as skipper as a result. The World Cup will take place in Paarl, Gqeberha and Cape Town in February.

Van Niekerk, who also plays for the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL, hasn't played international cricket since September 2021. The 29-year-old missed last year's ODI World Cup and Commonwealth Games due to a broken ankle, and wasn't selected for the current tri-series South Africa is playing against the West Indies and India.

“Dane was given an extensive opportunity to meet the minimum criteria for the fitness benchmark,” selector Clinton du Preez said on Tuesday. “Many other players have gone down this route, everyone is quite familiar with the situation and what is required. In December, we set it out clearly with where she needs to be.

“Dane will always be missed on the cricket field. We have reminded her of that. We also appreciate the effort she tried to put into meeting the fitness level.”

The brutal move isn't unprecedented, Male player Sisanda Magala previously missing out on competing for Central Gauteng Lions in the domestic T20 Challenge after he fell short of Cricket South Africa's benchmark men's in the 2km run.

Dane van Niekerk, pictured here in action for South Africa at the women's T20 Cricket World Cup in 2020.
Dane van Niekerk in action for South Africa at the women's T20 Cricket World Cup in 2020. (Photo by Matt King-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Cricket world left raging over Dane van Niekerk call

Van Niekerk posted on social media that she was “absolutely broken” by the decision. She has 194 career appearances for her country and is the only female South African player in history with more than 1500 runs and 50 wickets in T20Is.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dané Van Niekerk (@danevanniekerk)

Retired South Africa great Dale Steyn was among the many to slam the decision on Tuesday. He mockingly tweeted: "Oh f***, I missed my 2km time by seconds, must mean I’m s***."

Van Niekerk's wife Marizanne Kapp said she was "one of the best captains in world cricket". Kapp wrote in Afrikaans: "You will be missed! The Lord has bigger plans."

Aussie cricket journalist Brydon Coverdale tweeted: "On the one hand, it seems crazy that South Africa would leave out their captain and arguably best player, Dane van Niekerk, from a home World Cup because she ran 18 seconds slower than some arbitrary mark in a 2km run. But on the other hand there is no other hand."

with agencies

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