By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the eagerly anticipated schedule for the inaugural tour of the Proteas Women to Pakistan, setting the stage for an exhilarating start to their 2023/24 season.
The tour, featuring three T20 Internationals (T20I) and three One-Day Internationals (ODI), will be hosted at the National Stadium in Karachi from 1-14 September.
The action-packed tour kicks off with a thrilling T20I series, as both teams eagerly look ahead to the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2024.
The significance of the 50-over matches goes beyond mere competition, as the two nations also resume their journey in the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) 2022-25 campaign.
These matches hold immense value as they contribute to the qualification pathway for the prestigious ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
In the current ICC Women’s Championship standings, the Proteas Women hold the seventh position with six points. They began their cycle with a three-nil ODI series victory over Ireland in July last year. Meanwhile, Pakistan has accumulated ten points in their first nine matches, securing the second position behind India, who has 12 points in six games.
In head-to-head encounters between South Africa and Pakistan, the Proteas have had the upper hand, with a 76 per cent win rate. Out of 24 matches played, South Africa has won 19 ODIs, with one match ending in no result. In the T20I format, the competition has been closer, with South Africa recording 11 wins and seven defeats against the hosts.
Among the nationally contracted players, Laura Wolvaardt, the leading run-scorer of the 2023 T20 World Cup, has an impressive record against Pakistan. She has amassed 406 runs and scored five ODI fifties in nine encounters. Suné Luus (18 wickets in 13 ODIs) and Marizanne Kapp (11 wickets in 12 T20I innings) have also had successful performances against Pakistan in the past.
Pholetsi Moseki, the CEO of Cricket South Africa, expressed his delight regarding the tour:
“We are pleased to announce the Proteas Women’s first-ever tour to Pakistan. This tour not only signifies the strengthening of bilateral relations between our nations but also highlights the ICC’s commitment to globally competitive women’s cricket through the Women’s Future Tours Programme.
“We are confident that this tour will pave the way for further collaborations and opportunities in the future.”
“These six matches will also provide the Proteas Women’s team with an opportunity to further establish themselves among the elite in international cricket. Success during this tour will contribute to a seamless journey towards the upcoming tours and the ICC Women’s T20 and 50-over World Cups, which will take place within the next two years.
Fixture – South Africa Tour To Pakistan 2023/24:
T20I Series:
Friday, 01 September 2023 – 1st T20I – Pakistan v South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)
Sunday, 03 September 2023 – 2nd T20I – Pakistan v South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)
Tuesday, 05 September 2023 – 3rd T20I – Pakistan v South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)
ODI Series:
Friday, 08 September 2023 – 1st ODI – Pakistan v South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)
Monday, 11 September 2023 – 2nd ODI – Pakistan v South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)
Thursday, 14 September 2023 – 3rd ODI – Pakistan v South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi).