Mali comes into the fold

Border seamer Zintle Mali (above) yesterday earned a maiden call-up to the Proteas Women’s Twenty20 squad for the upcoming series against India.

South Africa will host India in three one-day internationals and five T20s from February 5 to 24 across seven venues. The ODI series will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC), the qualification tournament for the next ICC Women’s World Cup in 2021.

This will be the home side’s first taste of international cricket since its successful run at the 2017 World Cup in England.

Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng is excited to see what the newest addition will bring to the table after grafting hard over the last season for her province and in the National Academy last year. South Africa boast a fully-fit squad and the coach is looking forward to some special performances from his “well-rested” charges.

“From a fitness point of view, everyone in the squad has been given the all-clear. Players are well rested and preparation has been brilliant so far,” he elaborated.

“It’s been a long break and preparation has been very good building up to this important, first IWC series and we are going to make sure that we keep working hard and that we arrive prepared for it. Come the first game against India, we need to make sure we hit the ground running.

“Going into the T20s, for us it is going to give us good preparation against a very good side.” – Own Correspondent