Dane van Niekerk Women’s T20 World Cup South Africa selection 2km time trial broken surgery dropped due to poor minimum fitness reaction

Warning: The following may contain offensive language

Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng says the squads’ fitness requirements are non-negotiable after former captain Dane van Niekerk was overlooked for the Women’s T20 World Cup for not meeting standards.

Before her home tournament, one of the fitness tests requires the women to run two kilometers in 9 minutes 30. ESPNCricinfo reported that Van Niekerk missed the target by 18 seconds.

As a result, the 29-year-old was overlooked for the tournament, which begins in Cape Town on February 10, according to chief selector Clinton du Preez.

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Dane was given a wide opportunity to meet the minimum criteria or fitness meter, he said.

It is purely based on the fact that he does not meet the fitness requirements.

Speaking on Wednesday, Moreeng doubled down on the decision, which left van Niekerk heartbroken.

If you look at the minimum standard required for players to be eligible for selection. At the end of the day, how you balance the team is how you post the fitness results, Moreeng told reporters.

The demand is non-negotiable in the country and every professional cricketer knows that.

That’s why we have bigger squads to make sure we have enough depth in certain positions. Once the final fitness list is given to the coaches and selectors, we’ll see what we have and how we can balance it and then you take it from there.

Earlier, cricket commentator Charles Dagnall was upset with the decision to leave Van Niekerk out.

They are half without Denmark’s Van Niekerk. Why so? Not just for his batting, bowling and cricketing skills, but for his brain, he said.

If I watch the men’s game, I would compare him to the steel and determination of the likes of Eoin Morgan. He knows what he’s doing there. He is completely above it all. No situation bothers him.

He’s got the answer to every equation, the players love him, they respect him and that’s an absolutely incredible side as a captain.

He is one of the best thinkers in the world.

He is such a big player for any team he plays for.

At the same time, in the aftermath of the decision, van Niekerks’ wife and teammate Marizanne Kapp received compassionate leave from the Proteas duties.

But Moreeng said Kapp will play in the World Cup and said he is part of the team and committed to us.

Van Niekerk, named one of the Wisdens Five Cricketers of the Year last year, has long been regarded as one of South Africa’s leading players as a top-class batsman, leg-break bowler and respected captain.

He broke his ankle in an accident at home in November 2021 and has not played international cricket since, despite featuring in England’s The Hundred last year.

South African cricketer Sisanda Magala has previously criticized the nations’ fitness test, where the men’s 2km pass is 8:30, on social media.

When will you run two kilometers flat on the cricket field? No, he said.

Your biggest sprint is probably when you’re chasing the ball on the boundary.

When they say you can’t play, you’re not just chasing my cricketing skills, but something that’s just a part of cricket.

Van Niekerk posted an Instagram photo shortly after the squad was announced with the caption Absolutely BROKEN.

Leading all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who is married to Van Niekerk and selected for the World Cup, tweeted her wife’s message with the caption One of the best captains in world cricket.

He continued in Afrikaans: You will be missed. Kapp added a heart emoji and another that expresses a broken heart.

Van Niekerk withdrew from selection for the India-West Indies tri-nation tournament earlier this month but had been expected to return for the World Cup.

As the tri-series was being played, Van Niekerk posted a picture hitting the nets in east London and said it had been a tough few weeks and thanked the people who helped him get back into shape.

Reactions on social media overwhelmingly supported Van Niekerk. Fast bowling great Dale Steyn commented, I missed the 2km time by seconds, must mean Im s***.

Sune Luus serves as the captain of the South African team at the World Cup.

– with the AFP