Cricket South Africa (CSA) has officially launched the Proteas Women’s 2026 campaign with a High-Performance Skills Camp at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane, running from 21 to 26 January. The camp marks the first national assembly of the Proteas Women in the new year and plays a key role in early preparations for a packed international calendar that includes home series against Pakistan and India, as well as an upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later in the year.
The camp features a strong mix of experience and emerging talent, bringing together senior internationals, regular squad members and players from CSA’s high-performance pipeline. Experienced campaigners such as Suné Luus, Dané van Niekerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Lara Goodall, Masabata Klaas, Anneke Bosch and Tazmin Brits form the core of the group, offering leadership and stability as South Africa plan for major tournaments ahead.
Alongside them are players who have become consistent contributors or are pushing for regular national selection, including Eliz-Mari Marx, Simone Lourens, Sinalo Jafta, Alexandra Candler, Izel Cilliers, Fay Cowling, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Leah Jones and Tebogo Macheke. The squad also includes several younger players such as Karabo Meso, Seshnie Naidu, Nthabiseng Nini, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Miané Smit and Faye Tunnicliffe, reflecting CSA’s emphasis on depth and succession planning ahead of global events.
The primary focus of the six-day camp is building sharpness, fitness and alignment after the off-season. Training sessions cover all key aspects of the game, including batting, bowling and fielding, with additional attention given to conditioning, recovery and mental preparation. Coaches and performance staff are using the camp to evaluate player readiness while reinforcing tactical clarity and role definition across formats.
The timing of the camp is particularly significant with South Africa preparing to face Pakistan and India at home, two sides with contrasting strengths. At the same time, CSA is mindful of the demands of an upcoming T20 World Cup, making early preparation crucial. The camp allows players to begin adapting their skills and mindsets to the pressures of tournament cricket well in advance.
The CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane provides an ideal high-performance environment, offering world-class facilities that support intensive training and sports science monitoring. This controlled setting enables staff to manage workloads effectively while ensuring players gradually build toward peak performance. Beyond on-field preparation, the camp also focuses on team culture and cohesion. As the Proteas Women continue to evolve, early-season gatherings are vital for strengthening communication, leadership and shared objectives.
As South Africa looks ahead to a demanding year that includes bilateral series and a global tournament, the High-Performance Skills Camp represents a foundational step. The Proteas Women have begun their journey toward consistency, competitiveness and success on the world stage.
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