CRICKET NEWS - Twenty-three-year-old KwaZulu-Natal Coastal allrounder Nondumiso Shangase has been named as a potential new cap in the Proteas women’s squad for the three-match one-day international (ODI) and five-match T20 international series at home against Pakistan. The tour will run from 6 to 23 May, 2019 in Potchefstroom, Benoni, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria.
Shangase is a product of the Powerade Women’s National Academy. She received her first invitation into the programme in 2018 and has been included in this year’s intake as well. The fledgling allrounder was also a part of the South Africa Women’s Emerging team that hosted England and Australia’s Academies in a triangular series last year.
Suné Luus has been named team captain for both formats while Dané van Niekerk continues her recovery journey from a stress fracture of the neck of the right femur. Ayabonga Khaka remains ineligible for selection while she completes the final stages of her rehabilitation from her shoulder surgery.
In good news for the hosts, the tour will see the return of two key senior players. Vice-captain Chloe Tryon returns after making a full recovery from a groin injury, while Lizelle Lee has fought hard to meet the team’s fitness standards which allowed for her suitability for selection.
Twenty-four-year-old wicketkeeper/batter Sinalo Jafta has also been added to the 14-women squads of both formats. She last played for the national team in January 2017 when South Africa toured Bangladesh. Jafta has since been a regular member of the national emerging team, biding her time until another opportunity presented itself.
The ODI series will be another opportunity for the home side to secure an additional six points towards their ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) campaign following a hugely successful home tour against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
