Dane van Niekerk's Surprising Return Fuels Proteas' World Cup Dream

Former South African captain Dane van Niekerk comes out of retirement to join the national squad for a crucial training camp ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. This camp will precede a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, essential for fine-tuning the team before the World Cup.

In a remarkable turn of events, former South Africa cricket captain Dane van Niekerk has announced her return to international cricket. Van Niekerk, who has been away from the international arena, will now join the 20-member national squad for a pivotal training camp in preparation for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup later this year.

The Durban training camp is slated to begin on August 25 and will run through September, according to the ICC. This camp will be followed by a critical tour to Pakistan, where South Africa will engage in a three-match ODI series starting September 16, marking the team's final international outing before the Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Notably absent from the camp are captain Laura Wolvaardt, Chloe Tryon, and Marizanne Kapp, who are currently participating in The Hundred. However, Luyanda Nzuza, an uncapped all-rounder, has been invited to join the camp, highlighting the team's focus on testing potential talents ahead of major international assignments.

The final rosters for both the Pakistan series and the World Cup will be more decisively outlined in early September. As head coach Mandla Mashimbyi emphasizes, this period is a critical phase for the team as they strive to perfect their strategies for a unified and competitive showing at the World Cup. The tour to Pakistan will serve as another invaluable gauge of the team's readiness.

(With inputs from agencies.)