KZN Coastal women’s all-rounder Nondumiso Shangase has earned a first call up to the Proteas women’s squad for their upcoming ODI and T20 series against Pakistan starting on 6 May in Potchefstroom.
The 23 year-old, who only starting playing cricket when she was in matric, has been a part of the Powerade National Academy for the past two years and played in the South African Women’s Emerging side against Australia and England’s academies last year.
It was something that Shangase could only dream of when she started playing cricket at the age of 18, but to be selected for the national side just five years after taking up the game is something she cannot comprehend just yet.
“I was completely speechless when I found out,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do with myself; it was just an unbelievable feeling.
“To get to this position was always a dream and I cannot wait to learn from the experienced players in the set-up.”
Shangase has been under the guidance of her role-model and coach Dinisha Devnarain since she took up the game and her coach couldn’t be more proud of her.
“She really deserves it,” Devnarain said with pride. “She has the most incredible work ethic and to see a girl come from not playing the game at all to being selected for the national side just fills me with such pride.
“I saw her passion and love for the game grow and develop into an ability to both bowl and bat and I remember having to tell her to tell people that she was an all-rounder when she came to the KZN Under-19 trials all those years ago!”
Shangase will be the first KZN Women’s representative to make the Proteas side since Chloe Tyron and it is a great step forward for women’s cricket in the province.
“We are incredibly proud of what Nondu has achieved in such a short career and we wish her all the best for the upcoming series against Pakistan,” CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom said.
“Her selection follows the recent success of the provincial team, and it is due recognition for the role that KZN plays in the CSA pipeline.”
More information can be found at www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
