History beckons for Wolvaardt and team in Pakistan

South Africa’s women will create new history and break down even more barriers in the rise of the Women’s game when they begin their six-match visit to Pakistan with the first of three T20 Internationals at Karachi’s National Stadium on Friday. It is the Momentum Proteas first tour to the country.

South Africa’s women have dominated their ODI encounters with Pakistan over the years winning 19 out of 25 ODIs while the T20Is have been much closer with SA edging the victory count 10-8 including one-off encounters in World Cups and Triangulars.

In the only three bilateral series played between the countries, however, Pakistan have emerged victorious twice – including a famous 2-1 victory against the hosts in Durban in February 2021. On home soil for the first time Pakistan are expected to pose the greatest challenge yet to South Africa.

Three T20s, from September 1-5, will be followed by three ODIs between 8-14, all played at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Much of the build-up to the tour centred around the position of head coach, Hilton Moreeng, who has been in charge for a remarkable 11 years, the resignation of the captain, Sune Luus, and the selection unavailability of vice-captain Chloe Tryon who chose to play in the final of the Women’s Hundred in England – and earned a winners medal with the Southern Brave.

But the dust of uncertainty was successfully settled by the popular appointment of 24-year-old opening batter Laura Wolvaardt as captain for the Pakistan series and the incoming tour by New Zealand which follows hard on the heels of the trip to the subcontinent.

“t’s a massive honour to be offered this position as captain for the next two tours. It’s something that I have always aspired to do, having played in this team for a couple of years,” Wolvaardt said of her promotion. “Having more of a leadership role is something I’ve wanted to take on. It’ll help me as a cricketer and learning to think as a captain on the field will hopefully help my batting as well.”

Having debuted as a 16-year-old back in 2016, Wolvaardt has played 80 ODIs and is already third on the all-time run scorers list for her country with 3193 at a remarkable average of 45.6 with three 100s and 29 half centuries.

“It is very new to me but I am keen to learn and do everything that I can to do well in the position. I am lucky that I have a couple of senior players within the squad around me as well, who would be able to help me and guide me if I do need help along the way,” Wolvaardt said. “I’ve been playing international cricket since I was 16 years old, I know quite a lot of players on the circuit and I’ve been playing in the leagues as well, so I’ve played a lot of cricket in recent years and hopefully, I’m able to use that experience and the knowledge to my advantage when I captain the team.”

Luus, of course, will be on hand to offer advice along with Marizanne Kapp who remains one of the world’s foremost allrounders. And then there is Wolvaardt’s opening partner, Tazmin Brits, who has taken giant strides with the bat in the last 12-18 months and is also becoming an important part of the leadership group.

Brits scored the fastest century (66 balls) playing for the South East Stars in the 50-over Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy in England a couple of months ago and, like many openers visiting Pakistan for the first time, is likely to enjoy the typically ‘flat’, batter-friendly pitches.

PROTEAS SQUAD:

Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt (captain).