Trisha Chetty and Shabnim Ismail have been selected for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifying squad, following a three-month suspension.
The Proteas aces were handed suspensions by CSA until 31 January 2017, for repeat offences that breached its rules and Code of Conduct. These offences included ‘unbecoming or detrimental conduct which could bring them, the Board or the game of cricket in disrepute’.
CSA announced the 14-woman Proteas squad on Tuesday, to play in a tournament in Colombo Sri Lanka from 7-21 February.
The tournament will take place in four venues with the teams finishing in the top four of the Super Six stage joining defending champions Australia, hosts England, New Zealand and West Indies in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 from 26 June to 23 July in the UK. The same top four will also join the abovementioned in the next round of the ICC Women’s Championship.
South Africa will lead Group B which includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea (PNG), while Group A comprises India, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand.
Teams will play four matches each in round one with the top three from each group progressing to the Super Six stage.
Coach Hilton Moreeng believes that he has the squad to get his side over the line and straight into the World Cup. He is excited with the group he has to work with and is confident going into the tournament.
‘I’m happy to report that we have a full-strength team going into the World Cup Qualifiers,’ he said. ‘We have the right balance in the side and a really nice mix of youth and experience.
‘I think that the recent tour to Bangladesh did wonders with the team’s confidence especially with our skills preparation on sub-continent conditions. The series really helped us get back into match mode and fine-tuning some of the areas we were not completely satisfied with last year. This team is definitely our best chance at earning a place in the big tournament later this year and we’re all really keen to get to Sri Lanka and do what needs to be done.’
The team will gather at the CSA Centre of Excellence for a camp ahead of the tournament from 27 January to 01 February.
Momentum Proteas World Cup Qualifiers squad:
Dane Van Niekerk (captain, Eastern Province), Trisha Chetty (wicketkeeper, Gauteng), Moseline Daniels (Boland), Mignon Du Preez (Northerns), Yolani Fourie (Gauteng), Lara Goodall (Western Province), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Ayabonga Khaka (Border), Lizelle Lee (North West), Matshipi Letsoalo (Northerns), Sune Luus (Northerns), Chloe Tryon (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal) and Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province).
Management:
Hilton Moreeng (Head Coach), Sedibu Mohlaba (Team Manager). Molebatsi Theletsane (Physiotherapist), Abram Ramoadi (Performance Analyst), Salieg Nackerdien (Assistant Coach), Russell Clarke (Fitness Trainer).
