Devnarain backs SA U19 Women to embrace World Cup challenge

South Africa U19 Women head coach Dinesha Devnarain is looking forward to the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, taking place in Bangladesh and Nepal from 21 January-6 February 2027, following the recent announcement of the tournament schedule and group-stage opponents.

South Africa, who hosted the inaugural edition in 2023 and reached the final in 2025, have been drawn in Group B alongside New Zealand, Samoa and Pakistan, whom they faced in a successful Youth T20 International (T20I) tour earlier this year.

Devnarain welcomed the draw and the different challenges each opponent will pose at the global showpiece.

“It's an exciting group and one that will challenge us in different ways,” the SA U19 Women’s coach said.

“We have recently played Pakistan, so there is some familiarity there, while New Zealand and Samoa bring their own challenges. We faced both at the previous World Cup, but this is a new tournament with new players, and we certainly won't be taking anyone lightly.”

The Junior Proteas will head into the tournament with valuable experience of playing in subcontinent conditions, having secured a 3-2 Youth T20I series victory over Pakistan in Karachi in July.

“The Pakistan series was incredibly valuable for this group, and not simply because we won it 3-2.

“Playing in subcontinent conditions gave us valuable experience but more importantly, it tested our decision-making, adaptability and ability to respond when things weren't going our way.

"For me, the biggest learning was that talent alone is not enough at the international level. You need game awareness, clarity and the ability to repeat your skills under pressure." Devnarain added.

With the World Cup less than three months away, the former Proteas Women all-rounder is encouraged by the SA U19 Women’s progress following a series of national training camps, including the most recent gathering in KwaZulu-Natal in September, while also highlighting areas for improvement.

"I am really pleased with the progress we have made, especially when I look at where this group started and how much they have grown together.

"Our batting has shown encouraging progress, our bowling continues to be a strength, and we are becoming more intentional about how we train and measure our performance. However, we still need greater consistency, particularly in our PowerPlay batting, bowling discipline and fielding.

"We are certainly moving in the right direction but we are not where we want to be just yet. And that's what makes this next phase so important."

Having led the SA U19 Women through the previous two World Cup campaigns, including their maiden appearance in the final in Malaysia in 2025, Devnarain believes those experiences can serve as motivation for the current group rather than adding pressure to repeat the achievements of their predecessors.

"What 2025 showed us is that South African women's cricket belongs on the biggest stage. We have been there, we know it is possible, and that should inspire us,” the coach continued.

"The motivation is not simply to get back to a final. It is to take the lessons from that experience, continue raising our standards and give this group every opportunity to go one step further."

Alongside the focus on player development and preparation for the ICC tournament, Devnarain made it clear that the team’s ultimate objective remains to compete for the World Cup title.

“Our ambition is to win the World Cup. I don't think we need to shy away from saying that. While our immediate ambition is to lift that trophy, our responsibility goes beyond January 2027. We want to develop future match-winning Proteas and leave South African women's cricket stronger than we found it.”

SA U19 Women’s Fixtures - ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027

Group B

Friday, 22 January 2027

South Africa v Pakistan (Chattogram, Bangladesh)

Sunday, 24 January 2027

South Africa v Samoa (Chattogram, Bangladesh)

Tuesday, 26 January 2027

South Africa v New Zealand (Chattogram, Bangladesh)

Super Six Stage

Wednesday, 27 January-Tuesday, 2 February 2027

Semi-finals & Final

Thursday, 4 February & Saturday 6 February 2027 in Chattogram, Bangladesh