Proteas call up 16-year-old star wicketkeeper-batter
Young cricketer, Karabo Meso has earned her maiden international call-up after the star wicketkeeper-batter was called up by the Proteas.
In the latest Proteas cricket news, young cricketer Karabo Meso has earned her maiden international call-up in the squad for the three-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka starting 27 March.
Cricket South Africa announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming T20Is this week, featuring one of the star players from last year’s ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
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Meso was one of the standouts at the inaugural U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 held in South Africa.
The wicketkeeper impressed with the gloves, notching eight dismissals in five matches – the most in the tournament.
For her brilliant glovework Meso earned her place in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023’s Team of the Tournament.
Meso was also selected for Team South Africa at the first-ever Women’s T20 competition staged at the 13th African Games in Ghana. South Africa won the silver medal.
TIME TO STEP UP
Proteas Women’s Head Coach Hilton Moreeng is looking forward to seeing how a youngster like Meso performs on the international stage as the team seeks to fill a few spots within their core structure in the long-term.
“We still have the core of the squad to make sure we can continue with what we’ve been working on regarding the T20Is. The build-up has been coming along nicely and now it’s just for us to deservingly give opportunities for those one or two spots we want to have a look at,” Moreeng said.
He also added: “There are a few youngsters coming in and one debutant in Karabo Meso who has been part of the High-Performance group and in the U19 World Cup.
“It’s a youngster who’s got a lot of potential and one we’re looking to see how she goes when given the opportunity.”
The other notable changes to the squad from the group that faced Australia in T20Is in January see the return of the all-rounders Annerie Dercksen and seamer Tumi Sekhukhune.
The trio come into the group in place of injured fast bowler Ayanda Hlubi, who is continuing her rehabilitation following a groin injury, Mieke de Ridder and Delmi Tucker, who will not take part in the T20I leg of the tour.
This team is out to continue making history after a tough tour of Australia saw them make history.
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South Africa T20I squad: Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon