Dane van Niekerk hopes for fully professional women’s cricket

Proteas skipper Dane van Niekerk has expressed her hope that Cricket South Africa will build on the momentum gained at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Van Niekerk hopes that fully professional leagues will be established sooner rather than later.

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Time for the women’s game to go professional

As things stand many of the women who represent South Africa are only part-time cricketers.

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“This South African team reaching the final – the timing was so good,” Dane van Niekerk said. 

“The hype around women’s cricket in South Africa, then the WPL… the interest was obviously created. The exciting part is that South Africa now watch women’s cricket. Now it’s the WPL, I hope the demand for a domestic league back in South Africa will come shortly. We still have a lot of work to do, but women’s cricket is going in the right direction in our country and hopefully this can strengthen the demand for women’s cricket and a professional league, and push to professionalise all parts of our domestic cricket in South Africa.”

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Dane van Niekerk in the WPL

Van Niekerk is out in India turning out for the Royal Challengers in the Women’s Premier League T20 event.

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She feels this tournament will be a boost to her and the other three Proteas signed up.

“I’m just excited to see them [her three compatriots] here, excited to see how they go and I wish them all the best,” van Niekerk said. “I hope they take off from where they left off in the World Cup and may this be the start for many South Africans to get into the WPL. May this grow South African cricket and its strength as well.”

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