In her first assignment since being appointed as the full-time captain of the South African team (all formats), Laura Wolvaardt will lead the Proteas against Bangladesh in the upcoming T20I and ODI series on home soil between 3 and 23 December.
The 24-year-old previously led the side to back-to-back series wins against Pakistan and New Zealand after she temporarily took over the reins from Suné Luus.
South Africa will take Bangladesh on without the services of Ayabonga Khaka, Chloè Tryon and Nadine de Klerk who are all out due to injury. Marizanne Kapp won’t see any T20 action but will be back for the ODI part of the tour.
Following a handful of solid domestic performances, Annerie Dercksen is making a welcome return to the national squad after suffering from a hand injury.
Uncapped Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz-Mari Marx will make their debut for South Africa in the T20s and head coach Hilton Moreeng is very excited about the prospect of bringing new players into the national fold.
“For the T20Is, this is where we are going to look, where possible, to blend in youngsters and give an opportunity to expose them at this level to keep growing the base.
“Overall, we have a lot of good youngsters coming through and the squad is becoming stronger and stronger every day with a more challenging environment, so we as a team are looking forward to that.
“It’s another opportunity for some of these youngsters to show what they can do while not losing sight of what we want to achieve overall when it comes to the entire tour.”
The squad for the ODI series will be announced before the first match on 16 December at Buffalo Park in East London. The series forms part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-25 that acts as qualification for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in 2025 in India.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker.
BANGLADESH: Nigar Sultana Joty (captain), Nahida Akter, Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Lata Mondol, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Shorifa Khatun, Sumaiya Akter, Rabeya, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Disha Biswas.
T20 SERIES
1st T20 – 3 December 2023 – Willowmoore Park, Benoni (14:00)
2nd T20 – 6 December 2023 – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley (18:00)
3rd T20 – 8 December 2023 – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley (18:00)
ODI SERIES
1st ODI – 16 December 2023 – Buffalo Park, East London (14:00)
2nd ODI – 20 December 2023 – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (14:00)
3rd ODI – 23 December – Willowmoore Park, Benoni (14:00)