Van Niekerk, who last played for South Africa in September 2021, was not considered after failing to meet fitness requirements as she makes her comeback from a broken ankle. She suffered the injury in January last year and has intermittently played in the Women’s BBL, the Hundred, the Women’s Super League, and for the South African Emerging Women’s side but has not met the standards to qualify for national selection. She has two weeks to change that, with South Africa due to announce their Women’s T20 World Cup squad on January 31. Chetty is sidelined with a long-standing back injury.
“Dané has progressed very well and it’s a step in the right direction,” Clinton du Preez, Convenor of Selectors, said. “Unfortunately, she did not meet the minimum national standards and therefore is ineligible for selection and we will continue working on her fitness as we continue through the tri-series, to assess her eligibility for the [T20] World Cup.”
“The uncapped players included have been part of the recent camps and have grown immensely,” Clinton du Preez said. “Annerie as an allrounder, she will bring much depth to the squad and versatility within the team. Tebogo has been working hard and will add an additional option as a wicketkeeper and it’s great for them to be a part of it.
“They’ve shown a lot of improvement and I am looking forward to their involvement and how we can maximise the opportunity of them being in the squad. It’s a great occasion for them to come up against two strongholds in India and the West Indies, which will really test the resilience of the two players.
Squad: Suné Luus (capt), Chloé Tryon (vice-capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Tebogo Macheke, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Delmi Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt