Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) premier women’s T20 competition, the Women’s T20 Super League (WSL), is set to return for its fourth edition which will be held in Cape Town between 12 – 16 December after a Covid-19 enforced cancellation in 2021.
Ahead of a special time in South African women’s cricket at the start of 2023, which includes the hosting of the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, this year’s festival of domestic T20 action will feature three specially crafted teams along with the SA U19 Women.
The four-team tournament will be played out at the Six Gun Grill Newlands Cricket Ground, with a host of triple-headers taking place during the five days of enthralling cricket under the splendour of Table Mountain.
The CSA Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez along with his esteemed selection panel will curate three well-balanced teams made up of Momentum Proteas and SA Emerging players, as well as the cream of the crop in domestic cricket, to represent the Coronations, the Starlights and the Thistles.
The SA U19s will bring the youthful energy to the tournament, as SA U19 head coach, Dinesha Devnarain and Proteas Women’s Hilton Moreeng look to finalize their preparations for the two global ICC events.
CSA Chief Executive, Pholetsi Moseki commented:
“At a time when women’s cricket in South Africa is taking centre stage, the return of the WSL is exquisitely timed as it brings together the best of the best this country has to offer, all in one central venue, as the national coaches and selectors begin to conclude their World Cup readiness.
“Newlands Cricket Ground will also be hosting the opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February next year, making this season’s WSL an incredible occasion, giving the people of Cape Town a preview of some of the country’s best cricketers in their backyard before the rest of the world arrives on our shores,”
CSA Senior Cricket Manager, Johan Weyers said:
“The WSL is a platform from where the players can contest for higher honours. The main objective is to grow the talent base through deliberate efforts in identifying, nurturing, and managing the players.
“More competitive cricket in the women’s game is needed to produce quality cricketers and to improve the pool of players for national selection this year.
“It is a very exciting time for Cricket South Africa; being the host of the inaugural ICC U19 T20 World Cup as well as the Women's T20 World Cup.
“WSL 4.0 will provide the much needed preparation for our U19 team and most of our Momentum Proteas players are also available for the tournament this year, which makes it very exciting. We are looking forward to competitive cricket and providing that base that the players can use to prepare for the upcoming international events,” Weyers added.
The tournament fixtures and participating players and coaches will be confirmed in due course.