The Proteas Women kick off the T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka on 10 February at Newlands in Cape Town.

The match takes place the day after the second semifinal and a day before the final of the SA20, a tournament that has captured the imagination of the country.

Even though there is growing concern that a tournament as prestigious as a World Cup is being drowned out in the current abundance of cricket this season, Cricket South Africa director of cricket Enoch Nkwe has assured that this is exactly what supporters have been craving.

“A lot of South Africans are very thirsty for cricket. They’ve been wanting a chock-a-block summer of cricket,” Nkwe said.

On the field, the team have come close to reaching the pinnacle of the sport at a World Cup in recent years. In the last T20 edition in 2020 in Australia, South Africa reached the semifinal stage before being eliminated by the hosts and eventual champions via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

In the 50-over edition of the tournament, the Proteas Women have reached the last two semifinals – in 2022 and 2017.

It’s been close but no cigar in the past few years but with a World Cup finally at home for the first time since 2005, it was time to take the next step, Nkwe said.

“It’s pretty simple,” he said. “There is only one goal, only one KPI – and that is to win the World Cup.”

Captain Suné Luus of South Africa during the Women’s Tri-Series, 2nd T20I match between South Africa and West Indies at Buffalo Park on 21 January, 2023 in East London. (Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)

Fallen stalwarts

The Proteas Women will have to make the trek into foreign territory without a number of players who have made the team a force in recent years.

Opening batter Lizelle Lee retired under controversial circumstances during the Proteas Women’s tour of England last year.

Stalwart Mignon du Preez retired from T20 cricket (the only version she was still playing internationally) in December.

There was another damaging blow recently when captain and all-rounder Dane van Niekerk was not selected for the T20 World Cup squad after she failed fitness tests.

“Regarding the Dane issue, it’s been tough on everyone. [Van Niekerk] I know will be very disappointed about what has transpired but as a team we need to move on,” said head coach Hilton Moreeng.

He confirmed that, although Van Niekerk was one of the team’s premier batters and bowlers, it was not possible to select her, despite her on-field prowess.

“For players to be available for selection, fitness is the first hurdle,” Moreeng said.

“It’s about how you balance the team post receiving the fitness results. [Fitness] is non-negotiable in the country. Every single professional cricketer knows it.”

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Van Niekerk has not played for South ­Africa since September 2021 after an ankle injury. Before her injury, she was deployed as a top-order batter and first-choice leg-break bowler.

Her role as skipper of the side will be taken over by Suné Luus, who has been in charge since her first absence.

“She understands her role very well. She’s a very good leader,” said Moreeng about Luus. “She understands the job needs to get done. With the opportunity she’s gotten to lead the team, she’s grabbed it with both hands. Over the last year and a half to two years she’s led the team with distinction.”

To add further fuel to the fire, Van Niekerk’s wife, fast-bowling Proteas Women all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, was granted compassionate leave from the tri-series final match against India on Thursday, 2 February following Van Niekerk’s omission from the World Cup squad.

Full support

“We’re very happy with the form she is in and what she brings. We granted her leave so she can come to the World Cup and be ready to play,” said Moreeng about Kapp.

Kapp supported her wife on social media this past week, saying she was heartbroken. “One of the best captains in world cricket. You will be missed,” she wrote.

It remains to be seen in what mental headspace Kapp – who is an integral and experienced member of the team – is in when she returns to the Proteas Women fold heading into the World Cup.

One match at a time

The other teams in South Africa’s group – besides Sri Lanka – are Bangladesh, New Zealand and reigning champions Australia.

The Aussie women’s team is the most dominant team in the sport, having won the T20 World Cup back-to-back in 2020 and 2018 and having also won the 50-over edition more times than any other nation.

South Africa can only afford to slip up once in the group stage and a loss to Australia is no shame early in the tournament.

“It goes without saying; we’re playing at home, we have an opportunity to win a World Cup in front of our home supporters… We’re in conditions that we’re familiar with,” said Moreeng.

Big challenge

And though the Proteas are expected to beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – particularly on South African wickets – the big challenge to ensure the country progresses will be beating New Zealand.

The last time the two teams met, at the Commonwealth Games last year, New Zealand edged South Africa by 13 runs.

“The first hurdle for us is to make sure we get through the group stages and get ourselves in the knockout stages and then take it from there,” added Moreeng.

“The semifinals is what we’ve been consistent at reaching. Everything has been planned to make sure we give ourselves the best chance of reaching the final.

“We have enough experience. The core of the squad that has been picked for the World Cup has experienced these semifinals and they know what is required going forward,” he said. DM168

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R25.