Van Niekerk misses out as SA name strong WC squad

Former skipper Dane van Niekerk has missed out on the Women's World Cup squad. Cricket South Africa named a strong 15-member group for the event on Wednesday (September 3). Van Niekerk had recently revoked her international retirement and was picked in a 20-member squad for a camp to prepare for the tournament but has eventually missed the cut.

Laura Wolvaardt will lead the squad that has experienced campaigners like Chloe Tyron, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus and Ayabonga Khaka. Sinalo Jafta and Karabo Meso are the designated wicketkeepers with the latter set for her first senior World Cup having already participated in a couple of Under-19 World Cups.

Young allrounder Miane Smit, who was the travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup last year, has been chosen in the same capacity yet again. The squad will first travel to Pakistan later this month to prepare for the tournament by playing three ODIs. South Africa will kickstart their World Cup campaign on October 3 against England and will go on to face New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia.

Squad:

• Laura Wolvaardt (C)
• Ayabonga Khaka
• Chloe Tryon
• Nadine de Klerk
• Marizanne Kapp
• Tazmin Brits
• Sinalo Jafta
• Nonkululeko Mlaba
• Annerie Dercksen
• Anneke Bosch
• Masabata Klaas
• Sune Luus
• Karabo Meso
• Tumi Sekhukhune
• Nondumiso Shangase

"From the moment I joined this team, and even before my time when the squad went through the qualification phase, it was all about working towards this moment," head coach Mandla Mashimbyi said. "We can look back at the amount of preparation we have put in and know that we have done our best. We are ready to send a squad to the World Cup that will make South Africa proud.

"I am happy for all the players and management who will be getting on that plane to India, but I am even more excited to see what they can achieve together as a group. We believe we have the squad of players that can go out there and deliver on the world stage. Now it is all about carrying that belief with us every step of the way, along with the support of the entire nation."