South Africa’s women’s tri-series squad is announced; Marizanne Kapp is rested.

For the forthcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka, which will feature South Africa, the host team, and India, the South African women’s team will include spin all-rounders Seshnie Naidu and Miane Smit, as well as 17-year-old wicketkeeper Karabo Meso. These players have all received their first ODI call-ups.

Marizanne Kapp, an experienced all-round player, has been rested in order to get ready for the upcoming games and the World Cup in India.

According to a CSA announcement, “she continues her conditioning block in preparation for the subsequent tours and the World Cup in India.”

South Africa placed second in the Under-19 T20 World Cup, where Naidu and Meso competed.

Meso and Naidu have both played in T20 Internationals, with Meso appearing twice and Naidu three times. Smit, on the other hand, was a travelling reserve for the UAE-hosted 2024 T20 World Cup.

For the first time since South Africa’s June 2024 tour of India, Nondumiso Shangase is back in the squad. The team has excluded opener Lara Goodall, wicketkeeper Mieke de Ridder, and right-arm medium bowler Ayanda Hlubi.

It’s an excellent team. The combination of experience and young is beneficial. It’s a chance for these girls to demonstrate their abilities. Hopefully, when we hit the pitch in Sri Lanka, everything we’ve learnt at camp will be applicable.

“In my opinion, Karabo, Miane, and Seshnie no longer have an opportunity. We have the chance to provide them with this degree of exposure. According to ESPNcricinfo, head coach Mandla Mashimbyi stated, “It’s crucial that we expose them to international cricket as much as possible going forward and for the bigger picture.”

The coach acknowledged that the tour was viewed as an opportunity to evaluate the team’s present standing, recognising further development and progress, with the goal of being completely ready for the ODI World Cup in India.

“This tour gives us a chance to see how the team is doing. It’s still being worked on. We want to reach a stage where, as a squad, we are ready to go when we get in India in September [for the ODI World Cup}]. However, there is still some work to be done from a skill perspective, and that is what we are now working on,” she continued.

The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host all of the matches during the tri-series, which runs from April 27 to May 11.