Cricket South Africa (CSA) has officially announced the South Africa Emerging Women’s squad for the upcoming Bangladesh Tour of South Africa 2026, offering another significant platform for the country’s brightest young cricketers to showcase their potential on the international stage.
The month-long series forms part of CSA’s continued commitment to strengthening its player development pathway and preparing the next generation of stars capable of representing the Proteas Women in the years ahead. The Emerging Women’s side will take on Bangladesh Emerging Women in an exciting all-format contest beginning on 29 July, with the tour featuring three One-Day matches followed by three T20 matches.
The fixtures will be played at Chatsworth Oval in Durban and Pietermaritzburg Oval, providing valuable competitive exposure against quality international opposition. The series also coincides with the conclusion of the CSA Emerging Academy programme, allowing several standout performers to transition directly into international representative cricket. With South Africa continuing to invest heavily in women’s cricket, the tour represents another important milestone in identifying future Proteas talent while testing players under match conditions against a strong Bangladesh Emerging side.
The announced squad features an exciting blend of players who have impressed in domestic competitions, age-group cricket and CSA development programmes. Alex Candler, Simone Lourens, Miane Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, Yasmeen Khan, Karabo Meso, Leah Jones, Eliz-Mari Marx, Seshnie Naidu, Caitlin Wyngaard, Nthabiseng Nini, Nondumiso Shangase, Oluhle Siyo, Luyanda Nzuza, and Diara Ramlaken have all earned selection for what promises to be an invaluable learning experience.
Several names in the squad have already gained recognition through performances in provincial cricket, while others continue to rise rapidly through South Africa’s high-performance pathway. The inclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Karabo Meso, regarded as one of the country’s most promising young prospects, adds further excitement, while experienced domestic performers such as Faye Tunnicliffe and Nondumiso Shangase bring leadership and stability to the group. Young talents like Miane Smit, Seshnie Naidu, Caitlin Wyngaard, and Yasmeen Khan will also look to cement their reputations by delivering consistent performances throughout the six-match series. The balance between batting depth, pace options and spin resources gives the coaching staff an excellent opportunity to evaluate combinations ahead of future international assignments.
The tour schedule has been designed to provide players with experience across both white-ball formats. South Africa Emerging Women will first compete in a three-match 50-over series, where building long innings, rotating strike and managing bowling workloads will be key areas of assessment. Attention will then shift towards the shortest format with three T20 internationals, allowing players to demonstrate their adaptability, power-hitting ability and tactical awareness under pressure. These matches are expected to provide selectors with valuable insights as they continue monitoring players for higher honours, including future Proteas Women’s squads. Bangladesh’s Emerging Women have consistently produced technically sound cricketers capable of competing fiercely in subcontinental conditions, making this tour an excellent benchmark for South Africa’s developing stars. Every match will therefore serve as both a competitive contest and an important developmental exercise.
For the women’s squad, however, the immediate focus remains firmly on making the most of an important opportunity against Bangladesh Emerging Women. Strong performances during the ODI and T20 series could accelerate individual careers while reinforcing South Africa’s growing reputation as one of the world’s leading developers of women’s cricket talent. As the countdown begins for the SA Emerging Women vs Bangladesh Emerging Women 2026 series, supporters will eagerly watch a talented group determined to leave a lasting impression and move one step closer to wearing the Proteas badge.
South Africa Emerging Women’s Squad
Alex Candler, Simone Lourens, Miane Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, Yasmeen Khan, Karabo Meso, Leah Jones Eliz-Mari Marx, Seshnie Naidu, Caitlin Wyngaard, Nthabiseng Nini, Nondumiso Shangase , Oluhle Siyo, Luyanda Nzuza, Diara Ramlaken
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