CSA launches professional Women's League after Proteas' World Cup exploits

By SABC Sport
22nd August 2023

Cricket South Africa (CSA) officially launched their first professional domestic Women's League on Tuesday.

The new structure comes after the success of the Proteas Women in the Women's World Cup in 2022 hosted in New Zealand and the T20 Women's World Cup held on home soil earlier this year, where they reached the semi-finals and final, respectively.

It was at the latter tournament where Proteas women were dubbed 'History Makers', as the first senior South Arican national team to reach the final of a World Cup.

South Africa also hosted the inaugural U19 Women's T20 World Cup in January where the hosts narrowly missed out on a spot in the semi-finals.

The Women's League will comprise two main tournaments; the CSA Women's One Day Cup and Women's T20 Challenge.

The women's structure in South Africa is set to undergo significant changes. The number of permanent contracts in the 'Top Six' Division One will be raised from six to 11 players per team.

Additionally, there will be an improved and permanent coaching setup consisting of a head coach and an assistant coach as well as a centralized system for physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches attending to each team.

The teams in Division One will be Western Province, Lions, Dolphins, Titans, Garden Route Badgers and Free State.

CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said: "The professionalisation of the women™s domestic structure aims to elevate the women's cricketing landscape by providing a platform for local talent to shine, fostering a culture of sporting excellence, while inspiring the next generation of players.

"With the success of South African cricket on the global stage, we believe that this will be a steppingstone for local talent, creating an environment that fosters growth, resilience, and a deep love for the sport."