Former Namibian cricketer Yasmeen Khan has positioned herself to play for South Africa, joining a 28-player red-ball training camp between 27th and 30th September, with the squad gearing up for home Tests against India and Australia this season. Yasmeen, with a substantial experience of 117 T20Is for Namibia, having captained 27 of them, was born in George, a town situated between Cape Town and Gqeberha, and is currently associated with the Dolphins in Durban. Recently, Yasmeen represented the South African women’s emerging team in a series against Bangladesh, as she now competes for the country of her birth.
In this squad expansion, Yasmeen is among six uncapped players for South Africa, alongside allrounders Alexandra Candler and Nicolien Janse van Rensburg, batter Izel Cilliers, and wicketkeepers Simone Lourens and Tebogo Macheke. These newcomers will join established players like captain Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, and Nonkululeko Mlaba. Although Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, and Chloe Tryon, who were involved in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, aren’t included this time, Kapp and Tryon are expected to feature in the Canada Super 60 from 29th September to 3rd October. Dane van Niekerk’s international future remains unclear, and Ayabonga Khaka is unavailable for the Tests.
South Africa’s first Test against India is set for 9th to 12th December in Gqeberha, followed by a meeting against Australia from 11th to 14th April next year in Potchefstroom. While the schedule may shift slightly due to the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in February, these matches are confirmed to proceed. To enhance preparedness, South Africa plans to conduct two rigorous training camps in September and October, casting a wider net to expose players to the longer game format, which isn’t currently part of the domestic scene for South African women.
“Preparing for and playing red-ball cricket is something that excites us as players and coaches,” remarked Mandla Mashimbyi, the coach of South Africa’s women’s team. “Our team is always keen to learn and evolve, and the longer game format aids in our continuous advancement. We’ve intentionally broadened our player selection at the camp, aiming to cultivate cricketers who possess the required skills and mindset for success not only in red-ball cricket but further.”
Mashimbyi, known for his coaching success with the Titans men’s domestic side, has long been a proponent of increased first-class cricket for the women’s team to bolster their proficiency. Upon his appointment in December 2024, he expressed that engaging with long-format cricket would benefit the team’s performance in shorter formats, a sentiment he maintains today. “It also gives us an opportunity to enhance our technical and tactical blueprint, which is not only applicable to the longer format but will also help us prepare for the challenges ahead in one-day international and T20 International cricket,” Mashimbyi added.
South Africa’s team hasn’t secured a Test victory in five outings since 2007, and their last encounter resulted in a loss against England in Bloemfontein. Over the next FTP cycle from 2025 to 2029, they are slated for five additional Tests, including this season’s, with upcoming tours to Australia and England in 2028 and a home series against the West Indies in 2029.
South Africa Women’s Training Squad for Red-Ball Cricket:
Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Alexandra Candler, Izel Cilliers, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Nicolien Janse van Rensburg, Leah Jones, Yasmeen Khan, Masabata Klaas, Simoné Lourens, Suné Luus, Tebogo Macheke, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Nthabiseng Nini, Luyanda Nzuza, Kayla Reyneke, Nondumiso Shangase, Tumi Sekhukhune, Miané Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, Caitlin Wyngaard.
