After announcing her retirement from professional cricket last month, former women’s skipper Dané van Niekerk has lashed out at Cricket South Africa for not taking care of her.

The retired cricketer said her removal from the Proteas squad for this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa was nothing but personal.

Van Niekerk was ruled out of selection contention after failing a 2km time trial by 18 seconds and retired from international cricket shortly after the tournament.

Speaking to the No Balls podcast, the 29-year-old said she felt alienated by the country’s cricket governing body, CSA.

“They did give me the opportunity [to pass the test] and I’ll never take that away from them, but it was everything leading into that cut-off day,” said Van Niekerk.

“That hurt, because I was training alone, running, doing everything I can, and then they say that. Where’s the faith? You don’t kick somebody when they’re down. I didn’t expect a free pass – that’s not who I am.

“I held players and management accountable and that included myself. A comment was made to me about me losing the respect of the group, but how can that happen when I’m not there? It had to be an internal thing. It’s personal.”

As she hoped to be part of the T20 World Cup that was held in Mzansi, she revealed that she was over-trained and did not eat in order to reach the required fitness standard.

SA Cricket Mag reports that after missing the tournament which saw the Women’s Proteas losing in the final to Australia, Van Niekerk added that it was a bittersweet moment for her.

“I just couldn’t do it anymore for a company that doesn’t value me,” she added.

“I never expected them to kiss my feet. But surely what I have given and what I have put my body through for 14 years, does not count for something.

“The women in that team are my mates. I love them; I want good things for them. I was happy to see my friends experience that, but I was also bitter. The country needed that final but I did not work for 14 years for my country to miss out on that.

“I wanted to sing that national anthem with my team in Port Elizabeth, my hometown.”

Main Image: Dané van Niekerk/SportsBuzz