SA women gear up for final ICC World T20 training

The national women's team departed for Bangladesh for the final leg of their preparations for the ICC Women's World T20 on Monday. The 15-woman squad will take part in a three-match ODI and T20 series to help them to get used to sub-continent conditions before they embark on their mission to Sri Lanka to fight for the ICC Women's World T20 trophy.

Team captain Mignon du Preez is looking forward to the test and believes her team has never been better prepared, "I think our preparation up to now has gone very well. We've all bought into the dream and the goal and we have made the necessary changes and sacrifices needed to go all the way. The team is at its best at the moment, we've never been physically fitter or better mentally prepared for a World Cup as we are right now," she said.

The first series they will play is the ODIs, taking place from 7 to 10 September in Mirpur. The T20 series will commence on 12 September, drawing to a close on the 15th before the team make their way to Colombo.

"The team have really worked hard, they have been through an intense few months and have trained hard to get us here. The final preparation begins in Bangladesh and I have every confidence that our brief stint there will do us a world of good," coach Yashin Ebrahim-Hassen commented.

South Africa have everything to play for in the World T20, with their first test starting from game one. They play in the opening match against hosts, Sri Lanka, and are looking forward to it.

"It will definitely be a challenge considering that they (Sri Lanka) have the home ground advantage and the support from the crowds, but if we can win the first game, then all bets are off. Twenty-twenty cricket is a very funny game, if luck is on our side then we can surprise a lot of countries and get very far," Ebrahim-Hassen concluded.