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Cricket

“I am a wife first and then a cricketer,” says Marizanne Kapp after taking leave from tri-series against India

Cricket South Africa (CSA) anticipates that all-rounder Marizanne Kapp will join South Africa’s T20 World Cup team in Cape Town on Friday after being granted “compassionate leave” for this week’s T20I tri-series final against India.

Tuesday, South Africa’s usual skipper Van Niekerk was pulled out of the team after failing to fulfil physical criteria.

Despite her wife’s exclusion from the squad, South Africa’s coach, Hilton Moreeng, had no reservations about Marizanne Kapp’s dedication to the national team.

Moreeng explained why the leave was approved, stating that Kapp is well connected with the team’s aims. He explained: “The leave was granted so she can come back ready to play. She is part of the World Cup and she is committed to the World Cup cause. She needed a break for compassionate leave and it was granted to her because we felt we are very happy with the form she is in, as far as her skills are considered.”

“If you look at the minimum standard required for players to be available for selection. At the end of the day, it’s how you balance the team post the results you get from fitness,” Moreeng told reporters. “The requirement is a non-negotiable in the country and every single professional cricketer knows it. Hence we have bigger squads so we can make sure we have enough depth in certain positions. Once the final fitness list has been given to the coaches and selectors, we look at what we have and how we can balance it and then you take it from there,” he explained.

Moreeng feels he has a strong enough group to win the World Cup, which will be held in South Africa from February 10 to 26. “It is the strongest 15 available for us and we believe it’s the best, especially with the conditions we’re going on,” said Moreeng.

Both Kapp and van Niekerk have entered the WPL player auction, although van Niekerk’s participation is contingent on the CSA’s willingness to give her NOC. The board’s stance is to refuse injured or ineligible players the chance to play in abroad competitions, albeit their influence fades after the player retires. While the CSA had previously sent players who were not regarded entirely match ready to a tournament where a training regimen was in place.

Moreeng said that losing his crucial allrounder, Kapp, for the final, as well as the uncertainty surrounding van Niekerk’s selection, has been “difficult” on everyone in the South African camp, but he wants his players to “move on” swiftly. “It’s been tough on everyone. The players I know will be very disappointed but at the end of the day, we need to move on,” he said. “The disappointment is one of the things we will have to deal with and move on as a team. The players are very professional. They know these kinds of things happen. We don’t wish it for any player but it is what it is. They know they need to get on with it,” he added.

South Africa squad: Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Lara Goodall, Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Shabnim Ismail, Tazmin Brits, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Sune Luus (c), Delmi Tucker, Anneke Bosch.

South Africa kicks up their campaign against Sri Lanka on February 10 in Cape Town. Group A also includes New Zealand, Bangladesh, and the incumbent champions, Australia.

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Farzeen K

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