Dané van Niekerk says her omission from the Proteas squad for this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa was “personal”.

The 29-year-old was ruled out of selection contention after failing a 2km time trial by 18 seconds, and retired from international cricket shortly after the tournament.

Van Niekerk told the No Balls podcast that she felt alienated by 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, who had been stripped of the captaincy.

“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.”

Van Niekerk said she over-trained and did not eat in order to reach the required fitness standard.

“I just couldn’t do it any more 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 that not count for something?”

The Proteas Women went on to reach the final of the T20 World Cup, which Van Niekerk admitted was bittersweet for her.

“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 home town.”