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South Africa carries real expectation into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with captain Laura Wolvaardt and head coach Mandla Mashimbyi adamant the side now has the belief to turn near misses into a maiden title, as the Proteas Women open their campaign against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester, England,  2026.

After reaching the final in 2023 and again in 2024 without lifting the trophy, the Proteas Women travel to England as a team being spoken about, for the first time, as a genuine contender. Wolvaardt said the change in mood back home had altered the feel of this campaign. Rather than weighing on the group, she said the expectation had hardened its self-belief. “It’s also kind of given the group a sense of belief that if all these people are saying we can actually win the comp, then surely we can,” she said. “I think the group really believes that we have the talent in the room to win the tournament.”

Mashimbyi, leading the side at a global tournament for the first time, has framed the challenge around the Proteas Women writing their own story rather than measuring themselves against more decorated rivals. 

He was unmoved by outside opinion on where his team ranks. “You can’t blame a person thinking that we’re not the favourites because other teams have done it and we still haven’t done it,” Mashimbyi said. “So we need to change that narrative. And the only way to change that narrative is to make sure that we go all the way this time around.”
The opener pits South Africa against an Australian side that, while no longer reigning champions in either white-ball format, remains the benchmark. Wolvaardt was clear-eyed about the task. “I think we’re going to have to play some very good cricket to beat them,” she said. “I’m sure they haven’t really won World Cups recently, but I think they’re still pretty good and they’ve got all bases covered, so we’ve got to be at the top of our game.”

The build-up included warm-up fixtures against Australia and New Zealand, the latter offering what Wolvaardt described as a timely jolt. “I think we were in a position to probably win that game and then let it slip a little bit with the ball,” she said. “Sometimes it’s good to have a game like that pre-tournament just to wake you up a little bit before the real thing.”

Much of the attention has fallen on the bowling, where the return of Shabnim Ismail, alongside fellow senior recalls Marizanne Kapp and Dané van Niekerk, has lifted the group. Wolvaardt said Ismail had slotted straight back in. “It sort of feels like she’s never left,” she said. “She’s still bowling nicely and quickly as well, so having her as an option in the power play is going to be very nice for me as a captain. To have her open the bowling is going to be awesome in this tournament.”