Dane van Niekerk ruled out of New Zealand tour with calf injury

South Africa all-rounder Dane van Niekerk has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour of New Zealand due to injury.

Cricket South Africa confirmed the 32-year-old is suffering from a right calf injury, having experienced discomfort ahead of the first Women's T20I. She missed that match and will take no further part in the T20Is or the subsequent three ODIs.

Cricket South Africa has called up Anneke Bosch as her replacement.

Van Niekerk had returned to the T20I side in December after a four-year absence, featuring against Ireland and Pakistan. Having missed the ODIs against Pakistan, she was set to play in the format in New Zealand.

Her replacement, Bosch, could be in line to play her first T20I since November 2024. She was part of the South Africa squad that lost to India in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup final.

South Africa play New Zealand in the second T20I on Tuesday (March 17), with three more T20Is remaining before the three-match ODI series.