Dane van Niekerk Not in South Africa’s 2025 World Cup Plans Despite Comeback Efforts

Former South African captain Dane van Niekerk will not feature in the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, despite her return from retirement and inclusion in a pre-tournament training camp. Head coach Mandla Mashimbyi confirmed that van Niekerk, 32, remains outside the selectors' immediate plans, but may be considered for future series if she meets performance and fitness benchmarks.

Van Niekerk, who retired from international cricket in 2023 after missing out on World Cup selections due to fitness concerns, recently made a comeback to domestic cricket with Western Province. Her name was included in a 20-player training squad currently assembled in Durban in preparation for the Pakistan tour and the 2025 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. However, her inclusion was not indicative of selection, Mashimbyi clarified.

“She’s definitely not part of this World Cup. She’s not going,” he said. “She’s just part of the broader base of players that we’re trying to bring into our environment. We wanted to bring her in and expose her to the expectations.”

Van Niekerk last played in a 50-over World Cup in 2017, where she led South Africa to the semi-finals. She missed the 2022 edition due to a broken ankle and was later excluded from the 2023 T20 World Cup after failing to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) stringent fitness requirements—specifically, a 2-kilometre time trial under 9 minutes 30 seconds.

Though CSA has since moved away from rigid fitness tests, a high standard of fitness remains a non-negotiable expectation. Van Niekerk acknowledged she still has ground to cover.

"I know I'm probably not where everyone's at at the moment. I understand where I need to be for the team," she admitted. “This camp gives me a baseline to really gauge where I am physically and in terms of skills. Hopefully, after this, I’ll have a clearer view of what’s needed in the coming months.”

Despite not being part of the immediate World Cup setup, van Niekerk could target a comeback during South Africa's home season later this year, with bilateral series against Ireland and Pakistan lined up. The women’s team will also play at major venues including Newlands, the Wanderers, and St George’s Park — van Niekerk’s home ground where she has never played an international match.

Coach Mashimbyi emphasized the importance of her experience but warned there would be no shortcuts. “It would be false of us to not think that Dane is an important cog in the bigger scheme of things. She’s captained the team and done so successfully. But she’s like any other player now. She needs to earn her place.”

While van Niekerk won’t be part of South Africa’s World Cup squad, the door remains open — provided she meets the standards and proves herself in the months ahead.