South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is looking forward to a historic moment as the Proteas prepare to face Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series from September 11 to 19. The series, which will be played entirely at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, marks a rare meeting between two neighbouring African nations in women’s international cricket.

Wolvaardt will lead a youthful South African squad into the series, with the Proteas viewing the tour as an opportunity to give emerging players valuable international exposure while also strengthening cricketing ties within the continent.

Laura Wolvaardt delighted to face African neighbours

Speaking ahead of South Africa’s departure for Zimbabwe, Wolvaardt admitted that the series carries added significance because of the teams’ geographical proximity and the lack of previous opportunities to play against another African side. The South African skipper described the upcoming contest as something particularly meaningful for the team.

“It’s very special for us,” Wolvaardt said, as quoted by the ICC. She pointed out that during her career, South Africa had not faced another African team in international cricket, making the series against Zimbabwe a welcome change.

For Wolvaardt, the prospect of travelling to Zimbabwe and playing cricket against their neighbours has created genuine excitement within the South African camp. The five-match series will also provide both teams with an opportunity to build stronger cricketing connections and showcase the growing depth of women’s cricket in Africa.

“I think for as long as I’ve played, we haven’t played against another African team. It’s pretty cool that we get to play some cricket against our neighbours. So I’m very excited to head over there,” added Wolvaardt.

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Young Proteas ready to make their mark

South Africa have opted for a relatively inexperienced squad for the tour, giving several young players the chance to step into the international spotlight. Annerie Dercksen, Karabo Meso and Kayla Reyneke are the only players in the touring squad, apart from Wolvaardt, who featured in South Africa’s recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

With limited experience in the group, Wolvaardt is expected to play an important role in guiding the younger members of the side. However, rather than placing pressure on them, the captain wants the youngsters to embrace the opportunity and play with freedom.

“It’s going to be awesome to see those youngsters just express themselves and play free cricket against a new opposition. Lots of talent here in the net. I’m keen to see how they all go in the games,” Wolvaardt added further.

The series begins on September 11, with the remaining four matches scheduled to follow through September 19. All five encounters will take place at Queens Sports Club, giving the teams a consistent setting throughout the series. For Zimbabwe, the fixtures represent a significant opportunity to test themselves against a strong South African outfit. Meanwhile, the Proteas will be keen to use the tour to assess their emerging talent and build greater depth in their T20I squad.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.