South African team selects a 17-year-old player while omitting the returning ex-captain in their World Cup roster

South Africa has announced its squad for the highly anticipated 2025 Women's World Cup. The tournament, scheduled from October 3 to October 25, will see the South African team face some formidable opponents, including England, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia.

The matches against England, New Zealand, India, and Bangladesh will be played in Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam, while the matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be held in Colombo, and the match against Australia will be played in Indore.

Among the senior players in South Africa's squad are Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, and Ayabonga Khaka. Captaincy duties will fall upon Laura Wolvaardt, who will lead the team in this global event.

A fresh face in the squad is Karabo Meso, who has played two ODIs and five T20Is so far. Meso, who played in the U19 T20 World Cups in 2023 and 2025, has been included in the squad for the 2025 Women's World Cup. Notably, Meso will turn 18 just ahead of the tournament, making her one of the youngest players in the squad.

Dane van Niekerk, a veteran player who retired in 2023, announced her return on August 25, 2025. However, her exclusion from the squad for the 2025 Women's World Cup does not come as a surprise, with South African cricket team management citing reasons for her omission. On August 28, South Africa coach Mandla Mashimbyi stated that van Niekerk is "definitely not part" of their World Cup plans.

Miane Smit has been named as the traveling reserve for the squad, while Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Tumi Sekhukhune are among the players who made the cut. Interestingly, five cricketers in South Africa's squad are yet to play an ODI World Cup match, with Karabo Meso being one of them. Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, and Annerie Dercksen are the others.

For cricket enthusiasts, the official website of the 2025 Women's World Cup offers a wealth of information, including player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis, and live match odds. The website also provides live scores, match stats, quizzes, and the latest cricket news for the tournament.

As the countdown to the 2025 Women's World Cup begins, fans and players alike are eagerly awaiting the action-packed matches that lie ahead. South Africa, with its young and promising squad, is ready to take on the world and make its mark in the global arena of women's cricket.

South African team selects a 17-year-old player while omitting the returning ex-captain in their World Cup roster