Proteas women gear up for Pakistan tour and ICC World Cup

The Proteas women are currently in Durban for a national training camp as they intensify preparations ahead of the upcoming tour of Pakistan and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka.

Following the camp at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, the squad will depart for Lahore to face Pakistan in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series from 16 – 22 September. They will then head to India for the 50-over World Cup, scheduled to take place from 30 September to 2 November.

The 20-player camp includes several familiar faces from the recent West Indies tour, though captain Laura Wolvaardt, Chloé Tryon and Marizanne Kapp are absent as they continue competing in The Hundred.

Western Province duo Lara Goodall and Faye Tunnicliffe have been included, along with Fidelity Titans pair Eliz-Mari Marx and Luyanda Nzuza, earning her first call-up after impressing at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. Hollywoodbets Dolphins all-rounder Seshnie Naidu is also among the new names.

Head coach Mandla Mashimbyi expressed his optimism about the group’s preparations. “It’s a very exciting time to be part of this group as we build towards the World Cup. The players have put in a huge amount of work over the past few months to be ready for that first ball against England in India.” said Mashimbyi 

“This camp in Durban is crucial in helping us finalise a few key areas of our preparation, making sure we tick every box before we board the plane as a united force. The series in Pakistan will also serve as an important measure of where we are as a team ahead of the tournament, and we’re looking forward to putting our best foot forward in those three ODIs.” 

“In terms of the players involved in the camp, we’ve worked hard to ensure we have the right balance and skillset needed for a successful World Cup. We’ve also brought in the likes of Luyanda and Dané to take a closer look at what they can contribute to the group in the near future.” said Mashimbyi

Mashimbyi also clarified that Dané van Niekerk, despite being part of the national training camp, is not in South Africa’s plans for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. He emphasized “She’s just part of the bigger or broader base of players that we're trying to bring into our environment. She’s definitely not part of this World Cup. She’s not going to be going.”

Mashimbyi further underlined that while Van Niekerk is not immediately in the squad mix, her participation in the camp is strategic, helping her reconnect with team culture and performance benchmarks. Ultimately, like any player, “She needs to work her way up again. She needs to earn her place as well.” said Mashimbyi 

Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta also shared her thoughts on the team’s progress. “The preparations were going really well, obviously the batters got here last week Friday, so they did some check-in fitness tests and then obviously we'd had a batting camp and another whole squad during this two days ago” said Jafta 

“I think over the last three years cycle we just had T20 cricket so obviously the mindset was over T20, and I mean falling out in the semifinals in New Zealand was really tough and I think what we've done well as a team is to just focus on the longer format of the white ball cricket and yeah it's been a journey.”

“As an athlete you're always a competitor, you have to go with the mindset that you're going to win and I think if you leave question marks you'll always make excuses like yeah, but I think in my mindset and I'm sure my teammates feel all the same way going out there to lift up the trophy and I mean we're putting strides and I mean we're just going there to compete if we compete every game, whatever the outcome is endless you never know so we always give it up to God's answer.” said Jafta 

The final squads for the Pakistan series and the World Cup will be confirmed in early September.

Proteas women national training camp squad 

Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Luyanda Nzuza (Fidelity Titans), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Fidelity Titans), Faye Tunnicliffe (World Sports Betting Western Province), Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).

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