South African women’s cricketer Dane van Niekerk has decided to make a return to international cricket after announcing her retirement from all forms of cricket in 2023. The former Proteas captain van Niekerk revoked her retirement and ‘sincerely apologised to Cricket South Africa’ in a social media post on Monday.
She wrote, “I’m thrilled to announce that I have decided to revoke my retirement from international cricket. The time away has reminded me just how much I have missed representing my country and I am fully committed to giving everything to once again have that opportunity.”
— Danevn81 (@Danevn811) August 25, 2025
“I sincerely apologise to Cricket South Africa and the cricket family for how I handled my retirement, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to hopefully one day express my skills again on the international stage. I know the standards of the team and the women’s game continue to rise, and I am ready to work hard to meet them,” she added.
“I return with renewed energy, focus, and a deep sense of gratitude for this chance. Thank you to everyone who continues to support me on this journey,” concluded Van Niekerk.
She has also been included in South Africa’s 20-member squad, which will participate in a home camp to prepare for the Women’s ODI World Cup next month.
Home World Cup snub led to retirement
Van Niekerk hasn’t played any international cricket since September 2021 and did not make South Africa’s 2022 ODI World Cup squad after breaking her ankle. As per ESPNCricinfo, she was due to lead the team at that event but her recovery took far longer than initially expected. She was eventually due to return in early 2023 but could not complete a two-kilometre time trial run in under 9:30.
After she couldn’t find a place in the team for the home T20 World Cup due to poor fitness standards, Van Niekerk announced her international retirement in March 2023.
Van Niekerk is married to South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, and scored 4,074 runs and took 204 wickets across all formats in international cricket. She is one of only six female cricketers to claim more than 1,000 runs, 50 wickets and 50 catches in the One-Day format.
