Van Niekerk in line for SA comeback after u-turn on retirement

Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk is in line for an international comeback after being included in the training squad for the Women's World Cup. Van Niekerk retired from international cricket in March 2023, after she missed out on the home T20 World Cup for failing to meet CSA's fitness requirements but has been playing domestically for Western Province and has made herself available for international selection.

Van Niekerk has not played any international cricket since September 2021 and did not make South Africa's 2022 ODI World Cup squad after breaking her ankle. She was due to lead the team at that event but her recovery took far longer than initially expected. She was eventually due to return in early 2023 but could not complete a two-kilometre time trial run in under 9:30.

At the time, CSA were strictly enforcing this criteria but they have since relaxed the regulations and players can be picked on the coach's discretion.

Last season, van Niekerk committed to a full summer of provincial cricket but put "no timeline," on an international comeback. She played five fifty-over matches for Western Province and scored 179 runs at 59.66 but had better returns in the shortest format, where she was the fourth-leading run-scorer of the Pro20. She has since confirmed that she is available for South Africa.

In a post on Instagram, van Niekerk wrote that she has "decided to revoke my retirement from international cricket," and that, "the time away has reminded me just how much I have missed representing my country." She also apologised to, "Cricket South Africa and the cricket family for how I handled my retirement," and committed to meeting "standards of the women's game."

Her experience and ability in the middle-order, where South Africa have struggled, and her legspin could see her come into contention for next month's World Cup in the subcontinent.

Laura Wolvaardt will lead South Africa at the tournament but is not part of this week's training camp as she is involved at the Hundred. Van Niekerk's wife, Marizanne Kapp, and Chloe Tryon are also playing in the United Kingdom and expected to be part of the World Cup squad.

That means the other 19 players in the training camp will compete for 12 spots in a family player squad. Some, like opening batter Tazmin Brits, seamer Ayabonga Khaka and left-arm spinner Nonkululekho Mlaba are shoe-ins, but players such as batter Faye Tunnicliffe and legspinner Seshnie Naidu could be on the fringes. The only uncapped player in the camp is 19-year old allrounder Luyanda Nzuza, who played for South Africa at the under-19 World Cup and for the emerging side on a tour to Bangladesh.

South Africa's squad will train in Durban this week before their final squad is announced. The playing group will travel to Pakistan for three ODIs between September 16 and 22 ahead of the World Cup. South Africa have been losing semi-finalists in the last two fifty-over World Cups.

South Africa squad for training camp: Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Luyanda Nzuza, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Miané Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, Dané van Niekerk