South Africa have named a 15-strong squad for next month’s Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, with 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Karabo Meso the headline inclusion.
Meso has appeared in only two one-day internationals and seven senior games overall, yet selectors feel her crisp glove-work and aggressive stroke-play warrant a place on the sport’s biggest stage. She has already featured in two Under-19 World Cups and captained Steyn College to the SA20 Schools title earlier this year.
Off-spin all-rounder Nondumiso Shangase also earns a first World Cup berth, while Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen – all familiar faces in T20 global tournaments – are set for their maiden ODI World Cup campaign.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt again leads a core of experience that includes Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon and seamer Ayabonga Khaka, the quartet pivotal to South Africa’s semi-final finish in the last edition. Former skipper Dane van Niekerk, invited to a recent training camp, remains on the comeback trail and misses out.
Selectors have kept changes to a minimum. Batters Lara Goodall and Faye Tunnicliffe, pacer Ayanda Hlubi, leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu and all-rounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Luyanda Ntuza fall just short this time. Off-spinning all-rounder Miane Smit will travel as reserve.
“The make-up of the squad is underpinned by the consistent selection process that was adhered to during the recent ICC Women’s Championship cycle, while taking into account the subcontinent conditions and the different characteristics of the group required for a successful tournament of this nature,” Clinton du Preez, South Africa’s convenor of selectors, said.
This will be the first global event under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, who replaced Hilton Moreeng last year. Mashimbyi’s record stands at four wins from ten ODIs – patchy rather than poor – though the sample size is small and key players have not always been available. The side will attempt to fine-tune combinations during a three-match series in Pakistan from 16–22 September before opening their World Cup against England.
“From the moment I joined this team, and even before my time when the squad went through the qualification phase, it was all about working towards this moment,” Mashimbyi said.
Recent history offers quiet optimism. South Africa have reached consecutive T20 World Cup finals and back-to-back ODI semi-finals, proving they belong in the top bracket. Converting those near-misses into silverware remains the challenge; depth in both spin and pace could prove decisive on typically abrasive Indian and Sri Lankan surfaces.
Meso’s elevation hints at a longer-term vision too. Wolvaardt is still only 26, yet fresh talent is being fast-tracked, ensuring succession planning is no after-thought. Shangase’s subtle off-breaks provide an extra spin option, while De Klerk’s skiddy medium pace and lower-order hitting add balance to a side that sometimes leans heavily on Kapp.
There is risk in carrying a teenager with limited senior exposure, but South Africa believe Meso’s temperament justifies it. If she plays – and that is not guaranteed, with regular keeper Sinalo Jafta also in the squad – the youngster will face not only quality attacks but the scrutiny that comes with World Cup cricket. Her coaches feel she is ready.
For now, the squad gathers in Pretoria before flying to Karachi. Selection table dilemmas will continue, yet the broader question is whether this blend of experience and raw promise can take one step further than previous campaigns. The answer will unfold during a demanding month across two cricket-mad nations, and it begins with a teenager who has never looked afraid of a challenge.
