Women's cricket put the right track

Cricket
The Namibians are looking to produce top-class performances after the recent confirmation of their full-time contracts.
Tielman Van Lill
  • 1 Week Ago 04 September 2024
Namibia’s Capricorn Eagles will from Friday match up against two near-peer rivals – the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Zimbabwe – in a triangular T20 series at Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

The Namibian women will play three matches against each of the opponents. All the games start daily at 14:00.

On the latest ICC women’s T20i world rankings, the nations are quite closely matched – Zimbabwe (14th) placed ahead of the Emirates (17th) and Namibia (18th).

At the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier held in Uganda last December, Zimbabwe were the unbeaten tournament winners, beating Namibia in the semi-final and Uganda in the final. The Eagles’ bronze match against Tanzania was abandoned due to rain.

The Namibian team will for the first time be under the captaincy of all-rounder Suné Wittmann, who has been appointed to take over the role from veteran team leader Irené van Zyl.

The Eagles squad: Suné Wittmann (captain), Yasmeen Khan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Merzerly Gorases, Wilka Mwatile, Arrasta Diergaardt, Edelle van Zyl, Mekelaya Mwatile, Victoria Hamunyela, Saima Tuhadeleni, Kayleen Green, Irené van Zyl, Naomi Benjamin, Bianca Manuel, Sylvia Shihepo.

UAE squad: Esha Oza (captain), Archara Supriya, Heena Harish Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kavisha Kumari Egodage, Keziah Miriam Sabin, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Rinitha Rajith, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper), Vaishnave Mahesh.

Marlize Horn, group executive: brand & corporate affairs at Capricorn Group, expressed their commitment to women's cricket and emphasized the significance of getting the players contracted.

“We are now in the fourth year with our partnership with Cricket Namibia as the naming rights sponsor of the Capricorn Eagles. I must say it has been a wonderful journey. Those ladies feel like family to us and it is always wonderful to see them at events and play abroad as well.

“For us is it a positive and wonderful journey and it has exceeded our expectations. The Namibian women are all contracted now and it was amazing when the announcement was made. To give these women the opportunity to have a professional cricket career is fantastic.

“We have a lot of confidence in Francois (van der Merwe, head coach) and his team and also Cricket Namibia for the support they giving the ladies.

“With these contracts they have the backing and commitment from Cricket Namibia to also look after them and make it easier for the players to participate in sport in a professional way.

Match schedule:

Friday 6, Monday 9 and Thursday 12 September – Namibia v UAE.

Thursday 8, Wednesday 11 and Saturday 14 September – Namibia v Zimbabwe.

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