New Delhi [India], September 15 (ANI): South Africa Women’s cricket team captain Laura Wolvaardt has showered accolades on the promising 18-year-old leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu, who has earned a spot in both the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup squad and the forthcoming three-match series against Pakistan.

Naidu, an emerging talent, previously made her mark representing South Africa at the 2023 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, securing five wickets in five matches. Her impressive performances continued as she was included in the South African Emerging Women’s squad for the Africa Games held in Ghana earlier this year.

Now poised for her debut in the T20I series against Pakistan starting on September 16, Wolvaardt shared her enthusiasm about Naidu’s potential as they prepare for the tournament in the UAE.

“Naidu is an exceptionally exciting young player. It would be fantastic if she gets a game, especially since we are considering her for the T20 World Cup, depending on how the conditions favor spin,” Wolvaardt stated at the pre-series press conference, as reported by ICC.

“It would be beneficial for her to experience international cricket within this series before we head over. Having faced her in the nets, I noticed she has remarkable control for such a young leg-spinner. The future looks bright for her, and I hope she gets ample game time,” added Wolvaardt, who also plays as a right-hand opener.

The T20I series against Pakistan is also seen as a pivotal opportunity for South Africa to solidify their playing XI for the World Cup, gaining valuable match experience in the process.

In addition to Naidu, South Africa has another uncapped talent in 20-year-old seamer Ayanda Hlubi, who is also in line for her maiden appearance in the three-match series.

Wolvaardt emphasized the significance of providing young players sufficient playing time to adapt to different conditions and build their experience.

“We are quite close to finalizing our playing XI for the World Cup. We have a few new faces in the squad with 2-3 changes from our lineup in India,” Wolvaardt remarked.

“It’s crucial for these younger players to showcase their skills, especially our young spinners given the sub-continent conditions we might face. However, selections will also depend on the opposition and venue on match day. We are nearing a final squad composition,” concluded Wolvaardt.

South Africa is part of Group B at the Women’s T20 World Cup, competing alongside Bangladesh, England, Scotland, and West Indies. Their campaign kicks off on October 4 against the Windies, followed by matches against England (October 7), Scotland (October 9), and Bangladesh (October 12).