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September 4, 2024
South Africa Names T20 World Cup Squad with New Faces and Experienced Players
South Africa has announced a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, featuring 18-year-old legspinner Seshnie Naidu and 20-year-old seamer Ayanda Hlubi, both of whom played in the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup last year. The squad, led by Laura Wolvaardt, includes experienced players such as allrounder Marizanne Kapp, opener Tazmin Brits, and seamer Ayabonga Khaka.
Nadine de Klerk, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, is also included and expected to be fully fit for the tournament. Wicketkeeper Mieke de Ridder and several players from the squad that reached the 2023 T20 World Cup final are part of the team, although Lara Goodall, Masabata Klaas, Delmi Tucker, and retired Shabnim Ismail are missing. Dillon du Preez will continue as interim coach following Hilton Moreeng’s departure in June, with a permanent head coach yet to be appointed.
South Africa will play three matches in Pakistan before heading to the UAE for the World Cup.
The selection of Seshnie Naidu and Ayanda Hlubi for the T20 World Cup comes as discussions swirl around the potential return of Shabnim Ismail and former captain Dane van Niekerk. Ismail, who retired after the 2023 T20 World Cup final, continues to play in T20 leagues. Van Niekerk, who stepped down amid fitness-related controversies, has signed with Western Province for the upcoming season.
Clinton du Preez, the convener of selectors, stated that there have been “no conversations” about a comeback for either player. Van Niekerk has indicated there is “no timeline” for her return to the national team, and du Preez emphasized that any return would require her to earn her place back.
“The message is very clear,” du Preez said. “She has opted to come back and play provincial cricket and she has got to try and knock down the door, do whatever she does best, and then we will consider and see how it goes forward.”
Clinton du Preez described the current squad as being in a “transition,” and Seshnie Naidu and Ayanda Hlubi are among the first players to benefit from this shift. Both players are from the Durban-based Dolphins team, with Hlubi standing out as one of the top ten wicket-takers in Division One 50-over cricket last summer. Hlubi also toured Australia with the national team.
“She’s got good attributes as a quick bowler,” du Preez said. “We followed her in the provincial competition, and definitely look at her excitement as a bowler, and going into a World Cup as a player that is not known to quite a few countries. We are looking at what she can bring towards and complement her bowling attack.”
Although Seshnie Naidu is early in her career, she has already gained significant experience. She was a member of the South African Emerging Women’s team that played in the Africa Games in Ghana earlier this year. Recognized as a promising talent, Naidu is seen as a future star of South African cricket.
“Seshnie Naidu has shown significant growth as a bowler within our camps, and we see her as an X factor for the World Cup,” du Preez said. “She brings a unique element to our bowling attack, offering something different that could be pivotal.”
Nonkululeko Mlaba, a top spinner from the Dolphins who was once ranked second in the world in T20Is, will spearhead South Africa’s spin attack. The team also has several strong seam-bowling options, including Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune, and Nadine de Klerk.
However, there are concerns about batting depth. The squad relies heavily on Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Tazmin Brits, especially since Sune Luus has been out of form. Luus has struggled in T20Is this year, scoring no more than 19 in any of her six innings and being dismissed for fewer than ten runs four times.
Since their impressive run to the T20 World Cup final last year, South Africa’s performance has dipped. They have won only five of their last 18 T20Is and lost series to Pakistan, Australia, and Sri Lanka. In the upcoming World Cup, South Africa will not face any of those teams in the group stage. They are in Group B and will start their campaign against the West Indies in Dubai, followed by matches against England in Sharjah, and then return to Dubai to play Scotland and Bangladesh.
Although South Africa has never played a T20I in Dubai, Luus and Khaka have experience in Sharjah from a 2015 T20I series against Pakistan.
“The management group has consulted in depth in the past week around all the conditions and all the potential factors that could impact things,” du Preez said. “It’s going to be difficult to adapt. However, we feel that the squad that we have got will be able to complement us on the field of play.”
South Africa’s T20 World Cup Squad:
Travelling Reserve: Miane Smit
Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for IPLWin365 (IPL365 News), she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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