Dane van Niekerk Returns to Franchise Cricket with WCPL Stint for Guyana Amazon Warriors

South Africa allrounder Dane van Niekerk is set to make her return to franchise cricket after a year-long hiatus, having been signed by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2025 Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

The Warriors confirmed van Niekerk’s inclusion alongside New Zealand medium-pacer Molly Penfold and Ireland wicketkeeper-batter Amy Hunter as replacements for Shabnim Ismail, Lauren Winfield-Hill, and Madeline Penna. This marks van Niekerk’s first appearance in the WCPL, and her first franchise league outing since participating in The Hundred in August 2023.

Van Niekerk was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023 but did not play a match and was released before the 2024 season. Her inclusion in the Warriors squad is a significant step in her comeback to competitive cricket.

The former South Africa captain had announced her retirement from international cricket in 2023 after missing selection for the home T20 World Cup due to not meeting fitness standards. However, she reversed her decision earlier this year after a successful domestic season and was part of a training camp with the national side. Despite this, she will not feature in the upcoming ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, which begins on September 30.

Speaking recently, South Africa head coach Mandla Mashimbyi confirmed that van Niekerk is "definitely not part" of the World Cup squad but noted that she remains in consideration for future international series.

During the 2024-25 domestic season, van Niekerk represented Western Province, finishing fourth on the run-scorers list in the CSA Women’s Pro20 Series, with a century and a half-century to her name.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will begin their WCPL 2025 campaign against the Trinbago Knight Riders at Providence on Saturday, September 6.