Sun Oct 06 10:06:27 UTC 2024: ## Proteas Women Aim High in UAE T20 World Cup, Buoyed by Pakistan Series Win
**Dubai, UAE -** The South African women’s cricket team, the Proteas, are in high spirits as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, taking place in the UAE. The team, fresh off a series win against Pakistan, are confident and ready to challenge for their maiden T20 World Cup title.
The Proteas will kick off their tournament journey with a clash against former champions the West Indies on Friday, but first they will face New Zealand and India in warm-up matches on Sunday and Tuesday respectively.
Key spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, participating in her third T20 World Cup, highlights the positive impact of the Pakistan series win, stating it has injected a much-needed boost of belief in the squad. “We took a lot of lessons, and even the weather conditions were the same,” she said, referencing the similar heat challenges faced in both countries.
The Proteas are well aware of the challenges the UAE heat will pose, especially during their day matches. However, Mlaba emphasized their commitment to adapting, “We can’t control the weather, but we are trying to control what we can, especially our skills, and try to avoid the sun as much as possible.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup group stages, the Proteas will face formidable opponents in England, Scotland and Bangladesh, in addition to their opening match against the West Indies.
Mlaba, eager to sharpen her game, sees the warm-up clash against New Zealand as an opportunity to showcase her skills and refine her performance ahead of the tournament. “I’m going to try and focus on myself and my game and try to improve,” she stated.
The team’s journey to T20 glory begins now, and the Proteas Women are confident in their ability to conquer the challenges ahead, aiming for a historic World Cup victory.
First Piper 