GUWAHATI: As the first feature of the ‘The Coach’s View’ series at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 held in India and Sri Lanka, Proteas Women head coach Mandla Mashimbyi was keen to emphasise the importance of trust, authentic leadership and a game-by-game approach for a successful tournament.
The 13th edition of the 50-over World Cup will see South Africa begin their campaign against England on Friday, 03 October, before taking on New Zealand, hosts India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and defending champions Australia during the global showpiece, scheduled between 30 September and 02 November.
Speaking ahead of the Proteas’ opening match at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Mashimbyi reflected on the team’s readiness for the tournament, which included preparatory One-Day International (ODI) series in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Pakistan earlier this year.
“It’s been really good. The girls have really given it their all in terms of making sure that they’re ready for the first game. The work that we’ve put in before this week has been sufficient. Just going into the first game, I think the players just have to be positive and fresh from a mindset point of view and from a physical point of view as well.
“The big word here is trust. It’s for them to trust their abilities, trust their teammates, and just have some belief that they’re good enough. And sometimes to be a champion, you’ve got to think like one.”
“Once you start trusting your ability and trusting the work that you’ve put in, you’re halfway there as an individual, and then obviously, just to relate that to the whole team and make sure that when we actually take the field, everybody is on the same page,” the coach added.
Mashimbyi will be leading his first World Cup since his appointment in December 2024. True to the approach he has maintained during his tenure so far, the tall and imposing coach is determined to remain authentic, bringing calm energy and instilling confidence within his group of players.
“I’m still me, to be honest with you,” Mashimbyi noted. “Given the fact that it’s my first World Cup, I think the best thing that I can do for this team is to be authentically me and just give what I can. Give them positive energy, and also just bring that calm mindset and also make them believe a little bit more. That’s what I’m here to do now.”
“When it comes to skills and stuff like that, I think that’s taken care of. Now it’s just to make sure that the players are nice and positive throughout,” he said.
The Proteas Women have enjoyed a steady rise in ICC tournaments in recent years, reaching the semi-finals of the previous two 50-over World Cups in 2017 and 2022. They then went on to secure back-to-back finals in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, in 2023 on home soil and in 2024 in the United Arab Emirates, narrowly losing out to Australia and New Zealand, respectively.
When asked about the team’s aspirations in this year’s World Cup, Mashimbyi said: “The ambition is probably the same as every team, to carry the trophy at the end of this tournament. What’s going to be important for us is to play every game on merit and take it game by game.”
“We’re looking to eat away at that elephant little by little, and that’s going to be key so that we don’t just create unnecessary pressure. The key is just to take it game by game and then just make sure we show up every game.”
Proteas Women Squad – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 & Pakistan Tour
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
Travelling Reserve
Miané Smit (Fidelity Titans)
Fixtures – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Friday, 03 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs England (ACA Stadium, Guwahati)
Monday, 06 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs New Zealand (Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore)
Thursday, 09 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs India (ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam)
Monday, 13 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs Bangladesh (ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam)
Friday, 17 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs Sri Lanka (R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)
Tuesday, 21 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs Pakistan (R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)
Saturday, 25 October at 11h30 – South Africa vs Australia (Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore)
Wednesday, 29 October at 11h30 – Semi-final 1 (TBC)
Thursday, 30 October at 11h30 – Semi-final 2 (Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai)
Sunday, 02 November at 11h30 – Final (TBC)
Source: cricket.co.za
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