Dane van Niekerk's shocking T20 World Cup omission explained: 'We're testing everyone fairly'

The Proteas women will be without the experience of regular skipper and all-rounder Dane van Niekerk ahead of next week's T20 Women's World Cup held in South Africa.

Sune Luus will wear once again the captaincy armband for the first women's World Cup on African soil.

Van Niekerk last played for South Africa in September 2021 after sustaining a left ankle fracture last January, which ruled her out of the entire year for the Proteas women.

She returned to competitive action last year in August in the Hundred and then took part in December's CSA Women's Super League for the Starlights.

Van Niekerk scored an unbeaten 50 off 47 balls, along with capturing two for 13 against the SA Women's Under-19 team at Newlands in December.

However, on Tuesday, Van Niekerk was the big talking point with her notable omission from the Proteas women's T20 World Cup squad, with convenor of selectors Clinton du Preez confirming that she had failed a late fitness test.

"Dane was given an extensive opportunity to meet the minimum criteria for the fitness benchmark for eligibility for the World Cup. She recently did another fitness test and, unfortunately, did not meet the minimum criteria, and therefore, she's missed out of the team this year," Du Preez told reporters on Tuesday.

"She, unfortunately, did not meet the minimum requirement of the 2km; a similar decision was taken for the Tri-Series. They've worked and assisted her into trying to get there." 

READ | Proteas suffer Van Niekerk blow, Luus named skipper for T20 World Cup 

Van Niekerk's absence continues to be a huge blow for the Proteas, who've already lost recently retired Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee and the injured Trisha Chetty.

It's been a long journey for Van Niekerk to regain back her