Skipper Dane van Niekerk returns for Proteas in enlarged Commonwealth Games squad

Skipper Dane van Niekerk has been named in an extended Proteas women squad that will be representing Team South Africa in T20 cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Van Niekerk has been ruled out with injury since January after a freak accident. 

The talented group of players features 14 members of the squad who took part in the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup as well all 18 stars that travelled and played in this year's 50-over global showpiece in New Zealand.

The players include Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka. This will be the first time the format and the women's game are included in the Games' history.

A final 15-player squad will be announced on 12 July.

South Africa have been drawn in Group B and will come up against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.

"This Proteas group will join a unique class of the cricketing fraternity who have flown the South African flag in a multi-code event, standing side-by-side with high-performance athletes from various sports, including track and field, swimming, gymnastics as well as netball," said CSA chief Pholetsi Moseki

South Africa’s 2022 Commonwealth Games T20 Cricket Fixtures:

Saturday, 30 July - 11:00 local time – New Zealand vs South Africa

Tuesday, 02 August - 11:00 local time – England vs South Africa

Thursday, 04 August - 11:00 local time – South Africa vs Sri Lanka

2022 Commonwealth Games T20 Cricket Teams:

Group A:

Australia, Barbados, India, Pakistan

Group B:

England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka