South Africa Under-19 Women captain Mieke van Voorst has expressed her team’s excitement ahead of their first-ever Youth T20 International (T20I) tour to Pakistan, where they take on the hosts in a five-match series that gets underway at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
The opening Youth T20I starts at 20h00 local time (17h00 SAST), with the series running from 14 to 24 July.
When asked what this maiden tour to Pakistan means for the SA U19 Women squad, the skipper pinpointed the opportunity the team will have to prepare in subcontinent conditions in the build-up to the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 in Bangladesh and Nepal.
“The team is really excited for the opportunity to play in Pakistan. It’s massive for us as a group, playing in the subcontinent before the World Cup, getting used to the conditions, getting used to the heat; that’s really good for the team.
“The squad is really excited for this opportunity. We had a training session or two and everyone is pumped.”
South Africa Under-19 Women Captain, Mieke van Voorst
Following extensive training camps throughout 2026, an inbound tri-series against Zimbabwe Under-19s and the invitational Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI, as well as a bronze-medal finish at the Patricia Kambarami Cup in Nigeria earlier this year, the SA U19 Women’s road to the World Cup has picked up speed.
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Combinations, adapting to the conditions and fostering the team culture are top of the agenda for Van Voorst and her troops as they embark on their maiden tour to Pakistan.
“The goal is quite simple. We want to see what combinations work and where we are as a group, what we need to work on to prepare for our bigger goals in the T20 World Cup. I think as a group, we’re also looking to get to know each other better and get to know these types of conditions because it’s not easy.”
“It’s extremely important for our development to play in a place like Karachi. The subcontinent conditions are exactly what we’re going to face at the World Cup. So, I think that is a really important opportunity for the group and that will really fast-track our development ahead of the World Cup,” the captain added.
Ahead of the SA U19 Women’s first bilateral Youth T20I against Pakistan, Van Voorst will be looking forward to seeing her side express their brand of cricket.
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“A strong performance in my perspective would always look like us playing our brand. We want to play our brand of cricket, we want to be fearless, and we want to have a good and enjoyable time as a unit. I really hope we can get that in the opening game,” she concluded.
The Pakistan U19 Women vs. SA U19 Women Youth T20I Series at the National Stadium, Karachi from 14 July to 24 July 2026
Tue 14 July, 17h00: Pakistan U19 Women vs. SA U19 Women
Fri 17 July, 17h00: Pakistan U19 Women vs. SA U19 Women
Sun 19 July, 17h00: Pakistan U19 Women vs. SA U19 Women
Wed 22 July, 17h00: Pakistan U19 Women vs. SA U19 Women
Fri 24 July, 17h00: Pakistan U19 Women vs. SA U19 Women
All times CAT
SA U19 Women’s Squad to Pakistan
- Mieke van Voorst (captain, Easterns)
- Chris-Mari Bezuidenhout (Mpumalanga)
- Daneli Boshoff (Boland)
- Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province)
- Reabetswe Dithupe (North West)
- Miya Lalor (Western Province)
- Respect Mabasa (Limpopo)
- Ziya Mohanlall (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal)
- Makwana Moriri (Central Gauteng Lions)
- Lungile Ngcobo (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal)
- Melissa van der Merwe (Boland)
- Diedre van Rensburg (North West)
- Ashleigh van Wyk (Easterns)
- Chanel Venter (Titans)
- Nobubelebesisa Zwane (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal)
Original Copy: Cricket SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The SA U19 Women arrive at their team hotel ahead of their historic first-ever Youth T20I series against Pakistan, which gets underway at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. All Photos: The PCB
Photo 2 Caption: Pakistan U19 Women captain Fizza Fiaz and SA U19 Women captain Mieke van Voorst with the series trophy ahead of the opening match.
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