Former Namibia cricketer Yasmeen Khan has declared her availability for South Africa and has been selected for a 28-player red-ball training camp preparing for two upcoming home Tests. Born in George, a coastal town between Cape Town and Gqeberha, Khan has represented Namibia in 117 T20Is and captained the side 27 times. She currently plays for the Dolphins based in Durban and recently featured for the South African women’s emerging team against Bangladesh, making her eligible to represent her birth nation.
Notable absences from the camp include Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, and Chloe Tryon, all of whom were competing in the WCPL. Additionally, there remains uncertainty regarding Dane van Niekerk’s international future, while Ayabonga Khaka is unavailable for Test duty.
South Africa will face India in the first Test of the season from December 9 to 12 in Gqeberha, followed by a scheduled clash against Australia in Potchefstroom from April 11 to 14, marking their 17th and 18th Tests respectively. While the Australia match may experience a slight adjustment to accommodate the inaugural Champions Trophy in February, it is guaranteed to take place. The Proteas Women aim to ensure their red-ball squad is fully prepared, holding two intensive camps in September and October. With an expanded squad, the camps will maximize exposure to the longer format, focusing on red-ball skills development and featuring a first-of-its-kind practice match, as South African women’s domestic teams currently do not play red-ball cricket.
“Preparing for and playing red-ball cricket is something that excites us as players and coaches,” said South Africa head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. “We are a team eager to learn and grow, and the longer format of the game significantly aids our continuous development. We have intentionally cast a wide net with our invited players to build a solid foundation of cricketers equipped with the skills and mentality required to succeed in red-ball cricket and beyond.”
Mashimbyi, who boasts a successful coaching history with the men’s domestic Titans, has long advocated for increased long-format cricket to develop the women’s team’s skills. Since his appointment in December 2024, he has maintained that playing long-format cricket benefits the team’s white-ball game. “It also provides us the opportunity to enhance our technical and tactical blueprint, which applies not only to the longer format but also prepares us for upcoming challenges in one-day international and T20 International cricket,” he added.
South Africa have failed to secure a Test victory in five attempts since 2007, losing four of those matches, including their most recent encounter against England in Bloemfontein. The team is scheduled to play five additional Tests in the 2025-2029 FTP cycle, comprising this season’s two, away fixtures against Australia and England in 2028, and a home match against West Indies in 2029.
South Africa women’s training squad for red-ball cricket
Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Alexandra Candler, Izel Cilliers, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Nicolien Janse van Rensburg, Leah Jones, Yasmeen Khan, Masabata Klaas, Simoné Lourens, Suné Luus, Tebogo Macheke, Eliz-Mari Marx, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Nthabiseng Nini, Luyanda Nzuza, Kayla Reyneke, Nondumiso Shangase, Tumi Sekhukhune, Miané Smit, Faye Tunnicliffe, and Caitlin Wyngaard