Proteas Womens Marizanne Kapp granted compassionate leave

This follows the passing of her father-in-law, and father to her wife Dane van Niekerk last week. 

The squad landed in the Caribbean country yesterday ahead of their white ball series against the West Indies from June 11.

READ: Proteas coach unfazed by damp conditions in England

Coach Mandla Mashimbyi confirmed to the public broadcaster that Kapp has stayed behind in South Africa.

“Obviously there’s certain things that we can’t control. It was quite unfortunate that just before we headed out to the Caribbean, Kappie’s father-in-law passed away”, said a sympathetic Mashimbyi.

“We decided to just give her a bit of time, but she did assure us that she’ll be with us by the end of this week, and we’re looking forward to having her in the camp.

As management, we’re going to give her all the support needed to focus on the game. It’s one of those that we can’t control, so condolences to her and her family”

That support from the coach and his staff will have to be done without a psychologist in camp, who would normally be tasked with handling such matters.

Dr Koketjo Tsebe was with the team on their recent tour of the sub-continent, but has also stayed behind, having told us that she’s busy with exams and has to sit out the trip.

“We normally take a psychologist with us to certain trips if the need presents itself. In this case we were happy that she could stay behind, because she still has some other stuff she’s busy with back home”.

“This means that the whole team will have to help each other, obviously led by myself and the whole management group. So that’s the situation we’re sitting with at the moment”, he said.

Veteran Kapp, who’s in line to earn her 150th ODI cap in that first match, was one of three players recalled to the squad by the coach after missing the Sri-Lanka trip as part of a structured conditioning block.