South Africa women’s cricket team is all set to play a 5-match T20 series at Surat from 25th September up to 5th October. The shorter format will be followed by the longer one with 3-match ODI series (9th to 14th October) to be played in Baroda.
The Lalbhai Contractor stadium will be making its international debut on September 25th. With a capacity of 8000, the state of art facilities automatically set up the tone for a cracking series. This T20 series is very crucial for the Indian women as they are all set to tour Australia later this year for a tri-series T20 tourney followed by the ICC T20 World Cup. The best thing about the upcoming T20 series is that 3 matches will be day-night events. This will increase the inflow of the audience as well as be a pivotal factor for team India as the women have not played a lot under lights. The BCCI has planned the timing of the matches well, as India would be playing the majority of its league games under the lights at the marquee event.
The Indian think-tank will look to give an extended opportunity to its youngsters who were impressive in the domestic tournaments conducted in 2018-2019. We have picked up some capped and uncapped players who could get a chance to debut on this tour.
Capped players:
Bharati Fulmali
The lanky all-rounder from Vidharbha hit the news with her ability to score quick runs in the shortest format. Fulmali was named in the Women’s Challenger series 2018-19. She instantly impressed the selectors with a gritty 69 in the finals. Riding high with some good performances at the highest domestic level, she got a call up to the T20 series against England. Although nerves got the better of her in the matches, she is being backed by the selectors as a lucrative all-rounder who can fit into the T20I squad.
Her power-hitting capabilities in the domestic circuit are quite well known. She considers MS Dhoni as her role model and has bigger plans for her future. What are they? Read our interview with Bharati Fulmali.
Komal Zanzad
The left-arm seamer from Vidharbha Cricket Association hopped into limelight when she scalped 8 wickets by conceding just 9 runs in the senior women’s league against Haryana. Zanzad was called up to the challenger’s trophy and Indian Board President’s Women XI where she again proved her ability by picking 3 wickets for 14 runs off her seven overs which earned a call-up to the national side.
At 27, she became a talk of the town, courtesy her fiery bowling that devastated a couple of stumps in domestic cricket. Read her complete story from Gully to Professional cricket:
Devika Vaidya
Devika Vaidya made her debut in November 2014 and has been in and out of the Indian squad. Vaidya, however, made a strong statement with her performances in the Women’s IPL 2019. Since then, she has been on the selector’s radar as a potential all-rounder.
Uncapped Players:
Manali Dakshini
Manali Dakshini has made heads turn towards her in-swingers in the Challengers Trophy, she proved that she can add some runs at the lower order which still remains as an area of concern for Harman’s army. Dakshini was one of the top performers of the Women’s Challenger series where she struck a 9th wicket partnership off over 70 runs that took her team across the line.
This Mumbai girl is knocking India doors. When will it come true and read all about her struggles in our interview:
Shefali Verma
15-year-old Shefali Verma proved at the WIPL 2019 that she can get some quick runs at the start. The youngster from Haryana scored 128 off mere 56 deliveries, the third-highest T20 score in Women’s T20 league which paved the way to participate in the Challengers Trophy and the Women’s IPL. Although it’s early days for the teenager, she can be around the team and gain some invaluable experience.
Tarannum Pathan
The off-spinning all-rounder from Baroda has been notching up some consistent performances for her state in the Senior Women’s Domestic league. Along with Radha Yadav, Pathan earned a call up to India A side against Bangladesh A. Pathan was also a regular name in the wickets column in the Women’s Challenger series.
Despite financial crunch and early setbacks, what kept Tarannum going? Read her complete interview with Female Cricket here:
Jasia Akhtar
Akhtar was the first woman for Jammu Kashmir to get selected for the Women’s Challenger series. Although she plays for Punjab now, the aggressive batter is well known in the domestic circuit for hitting boundaries at will. Akhtar made a crucial 56 in the finals of the Senior Women’s T20 league against Karnataka that helped Punjab to lift their maiden Trophy.
How did she break the societal taboos and made her way to cricket? Read the full Interview with Jasia Akhtar here:
From South Africa’s perspective:
It is no doubt that the Proteas will announce a squad for this spin heavy squad for this series due to the nature of the sub-continent pitches. Shabnam Ismail will be expected to get fit and lend a helping hand to Marianne Kapp. Skipper Dane van Niekerk will be looked upon to take the onus of the slow bowling department. The South African team will be touring New Zealand post-India, for a T20 and ODI series before the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Fixtures for South Africa Women’s tour of India are as follows:
Warm-ups:
September 20: Board President’s XI vs South Africa, Surat
September 22: Board President’s XI vs South Africa, Surat
5-Match T20I series:
24 September: 1st T20I: India vs South Africa, Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
26 September: 2nd T20I: India vs South Africa, Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
29 September: 3rd T20I: (D/N) India vs South Africa, Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
1 October: 4th T20I: (D/N) India vs South Africa, Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
4 October: 5th T20I: (D/N) India vs South Africa, Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
3-Match ODI series:
9 October: 1st ODI: India vs South Africa, Baroda
11 October: 2nd ODI: India vs South Africa, Baroda
14 October: 3rd T20I: India vs South Africa, Baroda
Which players will get a chance in the squad? Who will the selectors show faith? It will be interesting to see how the selectors go upon building the squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup commencing early next year.
