Dané van Niekerk Revokes Retirement, Eyes South Africa Comeback

South African women’s cricket star Dané van Niekerk has revoked her retirement from international cricket, expressing a renewed commitment to represent her country and compete at the highest level. Van Niekerk initially retired in 2023 after failing a fitness test and missing out on the home T20 World Cup squad, but she has since apologized to Cricket South Africa and the wider cricket community for how she handled her retirement. Despite injuries and fitness challenges, including a failed 2km time trial that excluded her from selection, Cricket South Africa has relaxed fitness criteria under coach Mandla Mashimbyi's discretion, allowing van Niekerk to join a 20-player training camp as she aims for a comeback. The camp, preparing for a World Cup and a three-match ODI series in Pakistan, will determine the final squad, with van Niekerk's experience and skills, especially in the middle order and leg-spin bowling, making her a strong contender. She acknowledges the rising standards of women's cricket and commits to working hard to meet them, motivated by the support from fans and teammates. Her return is seen as a significant boost for South Africa's prospects in upcoming international tournaments.