Former South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk announced a return from retirement as the team gears up for a training camp ahead of the Cricket World Cup.
The South Africa stalwart and former captain has been included in a 20-member squad to participate in a home camp as the Proteas prepare for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
Taking to her social media, Dane van Niekerk wrote in a statement, "I’m thrilled to announce that I have decided to revoke from retirement from international cricket.
"The time away has reminded me just how much I have missed representing my country and I’m fully committed to give everything to once again have that opportunity."
Dané van Niekerk revokes retirement and apologizes for how she left. 🏏👀#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/tQeGWnb8bM
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 26, 2025
The national training camp has been scheduled to commence on 25 August in Durban and will continue through September.
Training camp has officially kicked off with our Proteas Women. 🇿🇦
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) August 26, 2025
Our batters are already looking sharp, striking the ball cleanly and building solid form. 🔥🏏#AlwaysRising #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/hc1gomOIEU
Following the completion of the camp, South Africa will travel to Pakistan for a three-match ODI series starting on 16 September - their final assignment ahead of the Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Van Niekerk could come into consideration for selection for the Pakistan series and the Women's World Cup, but the 32-year-old said she wasn't looking too far ahead.
"It's going to be a lot of hard work, but I definitely wouldn't have gone through all of this if I'm not willing to put that in," Van Niekerk said.
"This is just almost a baseline for me to really gauge where I'm at when it comes to the physical side, when it comes to the skill side, and all those things and hopefully I can have a clearer view after this camp."
Missing out on the 20-member squad to take part in the camp are skipper Laura Wolvaardt along with allrounders Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp, who are currently featuring in The Hundred.
Meanwhile uncapped allrounder Luyanda Nzuza, who represented South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, has earned a call-up to the camp.
The final Proteas squads for both the Pakistan tour and the Cricket World Cup will be announced in early September.
Dane van Niekerk is called up to the Proteas Women's national training camp after revoking her retirement from international cricket 🏏#SSCricket #HereForHer pic.twitter.com/EZjTbq7hNw
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 25, 2025
"It's a very exciting time to be part of this group as we build towards the World Cup. The players have put in a huge amount of work over the past few months to be ready for that first ball against England in India," said South Africa Women's head coach Mandla Mashimbyi.
"This camp in Durban will be crucial in helping us finalise a few key areas of our preparation, making sure we tick every box before we board the plane as a united force.
"Pakistan will also serve as an important measure of where we are as a team ahead of the tournament, and we’re looking forward to putting our best foot forward in those three ODIs.
“In terms of the players involved in the camp, we’ve worked hard to ensure we have the right balance and skillset needed for a successful World Cup.
"We’ve also brought in the likes of Luyanda and Dané to take a closer look at what they can contribute to the group in the near future.”
PROTEAS SQUAD FOR NATIONAL CAMP:
Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Luyanda Nzuza, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Miané Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, Dané van Niekerk.