Dané van Niekerk has been named in a provisional 21-player Proteas Women’s squad that will represent Team SA in T20 cricket at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The squad features 14 players who took part in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup as well all 18 who played in this year’s 50-over Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Van Niekerk has been included in the squad as she continues her rehabilitation journey from a fractured ankle, while Delmi Tucker is the only uncapped player.
This will be the first time the T20 format and the women’s game are included in the Games (a men’s 50-over event was played in 1998 and won by South Africa).
The tournament will take place from 29 July to 7 August.
South Africa are in Group B along with New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka. Australia, Barbados, India and Pakistan make up Group A.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Proteas Women’s Provisional Commonwealth Games squad: Anneke Bosch (Dragons), Tazmin Brits (Dragons), Trisha Chetty (KZN Coastal), Nadine de Klerk (Western Province), Lara Goodall (Western Province), Sinalo Jafta (Western Province), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Ayabonga Khaka (Lions), Masabata Klaas (Dragons), Lizelle Lee (Dragons), Suné Luus (Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (KZN Coastal), Tumi Sekhukhune (Lions), Shabnim Ismail (KZN Coastal), Chloé Tryon (KZN Coastal), Mignon du Preez (Titans), Dané van Niekerk (Eastern Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province), Andrie Steyn (Western Province), Raisibe Ntozakhe (Lions), Delmari Tucker (Western Province).
Proteas Women’s Commonwealth Games fixtures (all 12pm SA time):
Saturday, 30 July: vs New Zealand
Tuesday, 2 August: vs England
Thursday, 4 August: vs Sri Lanka
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Photo: Mark Metcalfe-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
