Why Proteas Women's coach Mandla Mashimbyi sacrificed Miane Smit for team balance against Pakistan
PAKISTAN WOMEN TOUR OF SA
Miane Smit has been selected in the Proteas Women's team to face Pakistan in Lahore on Tuesday. Picture: Sri Lanka cricket (SLC)
Image: Sri Lanka cricket (SLC)
Proteas Women's coach Mandla Mashimbyi explained that it was a difficult decision to leave out rising star Miane Smit in the upcoming inbound tour of Pakistan Women.
Mashimbyi had invested quite a lot in Smit last year, taking the youngster to tour Sri Lanka, the West Indies and to the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The youngster showed good signs throughout, as she brought her maiden half-centuries in ODI and T20I cricket in the same year.
However, for the upcoming inbound tour of Pakistan at home, one that will see both sides play in three ODIs and three T20Is from February 10 to March 1, Smit has been shockingly excluded from both squads.
Instead, Mashimbyi has opted to channel personnel, calling on former Proteas Women's U19 captain Kayla Reyneke for her maiden call-up in the senior Women's team.
"It's all in the name of managing our players and giving opportunities to as many players as we can, especially when we're playing a home series. As for us preparing for T20 or for the future, I think both work hand in hand," Mashimbyi explained, as he was asked for the reasons behind Smit's omission.
"As for Miane, it was quite unfortunate. It was a tough decision to make because I know that she's definitely somebody who's going to be a big player for the future.
"But I'm not scared to make such decisions, as tough as it is. She's not out of the equation. She's still part of the squad. It's just that in terms of the balance of the team, it was quite a tough one to actually keep her in the Pakistan squad in both formats."
Proteas Women’s T20I Squad
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Chloé Tryon and Dané van Niekerk.
Proteas Women’s ODI Squad
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloé Tryon and Faye Tunnicliffe.