SA U19 Women 'pumped' ahead of historic T20 series in Pakistan

South Africa under-19 Women captain Mieke van Voorst expressed her team’s excitement ahead of their first-ever Youth T20 International (T20I) tour to Pakistan, where they will take on the hosts in a five-match series from 14-24 July.

The first Youth T20I will get underway on Tuesday at 8pm local time (5pm SAST) at the National Stadium in Karachi.

When asked what this maiden tour to Pakistan means for the SA U19 Women squad, skipper Mieke van Voorst pinpointed the opportunity the team will have to prepare in subcontinent conditions in the build-up to the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 in Bangladesh and Nepal.

“The team is really excited for the opportunity to play in Pakistan. It’s massive for us as a group, playing in the subcontinent before the World Cup, getting used to the conditions, getting used to the heat; that’s really good for the team.

“The squad is really excited for this opportunity. We had a training session or two and everyone is pumped,” Van Voorst commented.

Following extensive training camps throughout 2026, an inbound tri-series against Zimbabwe Under-19s and the invitational Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI, as well as a bronze-medal finish at the Patricia Kambarami Cup in Nigeria earlier this year, the SA U19 Women’s road to the World Cup has picked up speed.

Combinations, adapting to the conditions and fostering the team culture are top of the agenda for Van Voorst and her troops as they embark on their maiden tour to Pakistan.

“The goal is quite simple. We want to see what combinations work and where we are as a group, what we need to work on to prepare for our bigger goals in the T20 World Cup. I think as a group, we’re also looking to get to know each other better and get to know these types of conditions because it’s not easy.

“It’s extremely important for our development to play in a place like Karachi. The subcontinent conditions are exactly what we’re going to face at the World Cup. So, I think that is a really important opportunity for the group and that will really fast-track our development ahead of the World Cup,” the captain added.

Ahead of the SA U19 Women’s first bilateral Youth T20I against Pakistan, Van Voorst will be looking forward to seeing her side express their brand of cricket.

“A strong performance in my perspective would always look like us playing our brand. We want to play our brand of cricket, we want to be fearless and we want to have a good and enjoyable time as a unit. I really hope we can get that in the opening game,” she concluded.

SA U19 Women’s Squad

Mieke van Voorst (captain, Easterns), Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga), Daneli Boshoff (Boland), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Reabetswe Dithupe (North West), Miya Lalor (Western Province), Respect Mabasa (Limpopo), Ziya Mohanlall (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Makwana Moriri (Central Gauteng Lions), Lungile Ngcobo (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Melissa van der Merwe (Boland), Diedre van Rensburg (North West), Ashleigh Van Wyk (Easterns), Chanel Venter (Titans) and Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal).

Fixtures

Tuesday, 14 July (5pm)

First Youth T20I (National Stadium, Karachi)

Friday, 17 July (5pm)

Second Youth T20I (National Stadium, Karachi)

Sunday, 19 July (5pm)

Third Youth T20I (National Stadium, Karachi)

Wednesday, 22 July (5pm)

Fourth Youth T20I (National Stadium, Karachi)

Friday, 24 July (5pm)

Fifth Youth T20I (National Stadium, Karachi)