South African captain Dan Van Niekerk has been ruled out of next month’s T20 World Cup for not qualifying. Van Niekerk, who had not played international cricket since September 2021, did not meet Cricket South Africa’s fitness requirements and was ruled out on those grounds. Sune Luce will now captain the team in the tournament.

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Luus is leading the team in Van Niekerk’s absence

Leading the team in the absence of Loos van Niekerk. Including the ongoing tri-series at home involving India and the West Indies. South Africa will play the final against India on February 2 in East London after finishing second on the points table between the two visiting sides. Van Niekerk’s wife Marijan Kapp has pulled out of the match on personal grounds.

Dan didn’t clear the fitness test

Women’s selection convenor Clinton du Preez said, “Dan was given an ample opportunity to meet the minimum criteria or fitness benchmarks for eligibility at the World Cup.” “She recently had another fitness test. And unfortunately did not meet the minimum criteria, and so she misses out. It is purely based on not meeting the fitness criteria that she misses out.”

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She was recently tested on January 27

South African fitness standards require women cricketers to run 2 kilometers in 9.30s. Van Niekerk was over 18 seconds but achieved a personal best on the test. She was recently tested on January 27.

Niekerk is recovering from a broken ankle

Van Niekerk is recovering from a broken ankle. And she has failed to meet the fitness requirements for the tri-series as well. However, coach Hilton Moreng believ at the time that Van Niekerk would be ready for the World Cup. Moreng said at the time that Van Niekerk was part of the team’s camp and trained with them ahead of the tri-series. Van Niekerk had lost 10 kg in that time since last year’s hundred and met all his markers except the 2 km time trial.

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South Africa Women’s squad for T20 World Cup:

Sune Luus (capt), Chloe Tryon (vice-capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Delmi Tucker, Annerie Dercksen.

Non-traveling reserves: Micaéla Andrews, Tebogo Macheke, Tumi Sekhukhune