Proteas aim to upset applecart
CSA’S MOROE: TIME HAS COME TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Cricket South Africa (CSA) yesterday named the squad of 15 that will represent South Africa in the first ever stand-alone ICC Women’s World T20 taking place in the West Indies from November 9 to 24.
The sixth edition of the 10team tournament will take place across three venues – Antigua, Saint Lucia and Guyana.
The selectors have kept the bulk of the squad that recently completed a tour of the islands with the return of stalwarts Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty to complete the squad. Fast bowler Ayabonga Khaka has not sufficiently recovered from her shoulder surgery.
Three of the four newest members of the team that toured the West Indies have also received the nod. Tumi Sekhukhune, Robyn Searle and Saarah Smith will make their World Cup debuts. The Decision Review System (DRS) will be used in an ICC World T20 for the very first time.
South Africa will play in Group A in St Lucia against defending champions West Indies, England, Sri Lanka and World Cup Qualifier winners Bangladesh. Group B comprises Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland.
“Good luck to our Proteas Ladies as they head for the West Indies with high expectations for the ICC Women’s World T20,” said CSA CEO Thabang Moroe.
“They reached the semifinal of this tournament in Bangladesh in 2014 and came agonisingly close to a first appearance in a final in last year’s ICC Women’s World Cup in England.
“The time has now arrived for them to take that next step forward and get into the final.
“They can take a lot of justifiable confidence out of their tour of the West Indies where they drew both the ODI and T20 Series against their hosts who are the defending champions.
“They also had to make do without a number of key players,” said Moroe. – ANA
Squad
Dané van Niekerk (capt), Chloe Tryon, Lizelle Lee, Suné Luus, Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaardt, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Zintle Mali, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Trisha Chetty.