JOHANNESBURG: The South African Women’s National Selection Panel has today announced the Proteas Women squad that will take on India in a five-match T20 International (T20I) series on home soil from 17–27 April.
The Proteas’ final home international series of the 2025/26 season will get underway at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban with back-to-back matches on 17 and 19 April, before the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg hosts the third and fourth T20Is on 22 and 25 April.
The tour will culminate with the fifth T20I on Freedom Day (27 April) at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Tickets are available at cricket.co.za.
The 15-player squad will be led by captain Laura Wolvaardt in their final official assignment ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England in June.
Fidelity Titans wicketkeeper batter Tebogo Macheke receives her maiden national call-up after a wrist injury ruled Karabo Meso out of the tour, with Titans bowling all-rounder Eliz-Mari Marx also being recalled to the T20I squad, replacing seamer Masabata Klaas, in the only two changes to the side that toured New Zealand.
Top-order batter Anneke Bosch retains her place for the visit of India after replacing Dané van Niekerk during the T20I series against the White Ferns due to a calf injury. Experienced all-rounder Marizanne Kapp remains unavailable for selection as she continues her rehabilitation from illness.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has also confirmed changes to the Proteas Women coaching staff ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.
The adjustments follow the imminent conclusion of the current contracts of batting coach Baakier Abrahams, fielding coach Bongani Ndaba, and Strength and Conditioning coach Zane Webster, which will not be extended beyond the 2025/26 season as part of a planned transition within the national setup.
The trio departs after playing a significant role in a successful period in Proteas Women’s history, contributing to back-to-back ICC Women’s World Cup final appearances in 2024 and 2025, with Webster also part of the team’s maiden T20 World Cup final appearance in 2023 on home soil.
Stepping into the roles and bringing their specialised experience will be strength and conditioning coach Tumi Masekela, with former World Sports Betting Western Province batter Andrew Puttick (Batting Coach) and former Northern Cape Heat head coach Mduduzi Mbhatha (Fielding Coach) joining the squad through to the end of the World Cup before permanent replacements are confirmed.
Proteas Women head coach Mandla Mashimbyi commented: “It is a quick turnaround, for sure, but a T20I series against India at home will always be special.
“The group remains largely the same for this tour. While we have learnt a lot about ourselves as a team on the recent trip to New Zealand, we are also very excited to get back on the field and express our eagerness to grow and improve with every game and training session.
“We are excited to welcome Eliz-Mari and Tebogo to the group, and we are looking forward to seeing how they contribute to the team as we continue the journey towards the T20 World Cup.
“As a team, we are always looking to evolve, and the introduction of new voices brings fresh perspective and renewed energy to the group. We are grateful to Baakier, Bongani and Zane for the strong foundation they have helped build, and this next phase gives us an opportunity to challenge ourselves further as we continue our preparations towards the World Cup.”
Proteas Women Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez, said: “With the T20 World Cup around the corner, the team enters a crucial phase in their preparations for the global tournament.
“Maintaining a core group of players at this stage is essential, allowing Coach Mandla and the team the opportunity to further enhance cohesion across disciplines, test combinations and continue to develop a strategy for a successful World Cup.
“The inclusion of Eliz-Mari Marx is an adjustment to the balance of the squad in line with our needs, aimed at providing different solutions to what the opposition may pose. Tebogo Macheke has shown consistency and ability at domestic and Emerging level over the years and has earned this opportunity to stake her claim in the national setup.
CSA Director of National Teams and High Performance, Enoch Nkwe, added: “We thank Baakier, Bongani and Zane for their valuable contributions to the national setup, which have played an important role in the team’s recent success.
“We are equally pleased to welcome Tumi, Andrew and Mduduzi, as we continue to strengthen the environment with fresh thinking in pursuit of sustained success.
Proteas Women’s T20I Squad against India:
Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), *Tebogo Macheke (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions) and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions).
*Uncapped
Fixtures – Proteas Women’s Inbound T20I Series against India:
1st T20I – Friday, 17 April at 18:00
South Africa vs India – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban
2nd T20I – Sunday, 19 April at 14:00
South Africa vs India – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban
3rd T20I – Wednesday, 22 April at 18:00
South Africa vs India – DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg
4th T20I – Saturday, 25 April at 18:00
South Africa vs India – DP World Wanderers, Johannesburg
5th T20I – Monday, 27 April at 14:00
South Africa vs India – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Source: cricket.co.za
Makhaya Ntini: Makhaya Ntini makes it to the 8th on the list. He resonates with the million Africans who aspire to play for their nation. Ntini was the first black player to play for the South African cricket team. Despite his feet off the pitch, he never failed to amaze on the pitch. Ntini is the 3rd highest wicket-taker for the proteas in all the formats. He has picked 661 wickets in 283 matches. He was also the 3rd player for the proteas to pick 300 Test wickets after Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.