South Africa will try to take advantage of home conditions in the Women’s T20 World Cup starting Friday, although preparations for the opening match against Sri Lanka at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town have been difficult.
The hosts hope to improve on the performance of their men’s team, which failed to reach the knockout rounds in the only two World Cups in men’s cricket held in South Africa, the 2003 World Cup and the 2006 Champions Trophy.South Africa also underperformed as hosts in the 2005 Women’s World Cup, finishing seventh out of eight participating teams.
Spectator numbers were low and media coverage was minimal at a time when interest in women’s cricket was virtually non-existent. in 2023, however, the event will have a higher profile, with extensive advance publicity and live television coverage.
There has been controversy over the omission of former captain Dane van Niekerk on fitness grounds. Since Van Niekerk suffered the first of a string of injuries in 2019, Sune Luus has served as a caretaker for the side.
“We are used to the conditions, we know what to expect from every ground we’re going to be playing on. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage,” said Luus.
Marizanne Kapp was singled out by Luus as one of the team’s “standout” players whose form will be crucial.
Taking 12 wickets and scoring 203 runs at a strike rate of 92, Kapp was one of South Africa’s stars at the 50-overs World Cup in Australia last year.
After the World Cup squad announcement, Kapp was granted compassionate leave from a triangular tournament final against India to support her wife.
Despite Kapp’s absence, South Africa won a low-scoring match but Kapp remains committed to the World Cup campaign.
She has, though, been outspoken in support of Van Niekerk.
“It is a massive setback for me, Dane and the team that she is not in the World Cup squad,” Kapp told the Rapport newspaper at the weekend, adding that Van Niekerk’s experience as a player and “magnificent leader” would be sorely missed.
Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail, and Kapp form South Africa’s formidable fast bowling trio.