Cricket South Africa (CSA) today launched the Momentum Proteas Player Insights programme to make the players more accessible to their fans and other stakeholders as part of their preparation for their upcoming major ICC events.
The Proteas, having gone so close in their last two tournaments when they were edged out in nail-biting semi-finals by England and Australia, will want to take their challenge a step further in the ICC Women’s World Cup to be played in New Zealand early next year and again in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa in 2023.
“Our Momentum Proteas are as much the face of South African cricket as are the Proteas men’s team and this programme is part of our ongoing commitment to gender equality in our operations,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki.
“We are currently enjoying a golden era in women’s international cricket with many of our players such as Shabnim Ismail, Lizelle Lee and Dane van Niekerk being household names around the world. It is a very real possibility that our team will bring home a major ICC trophy in the next year or two.
“Shabnim, for example, has been the fastest bowler in women’s cricket for the best part of a decade and it is important that her profile and status in the eyes of our fans should be as strong as that enjoyed by our other great fast bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.
“She will feature in one of our first insights in which she will share her experiences of first playing street cricket in the northern suburbs of Cape Town with Vernon Philander and Beuran Hendricks.
“Our ladies have so many special stories to share. The end goal is for our Momentum Proteas squad to all be household names, highlighted by their personal stories, and faces for all our stakeholders by the time of next year’s World Cup,” added Mr Moseki.
The programme will be available on all of CSA’s digital and social media programmes as well as other media outlets.
“As a team we are very excited about the launch of this new initiative by our commercial team,” says Momentum Proteas head coach Hilton Moreeng who is also featured in this 13 -part series.
“This will allow the South African public to get a closer look at the Momentum Proteas and familiarize themselves with the ladies that continue to raise the standard of Women’s cricket not only in South Africa but across the globe. Fans will also be able to identify better with the players as this platform will showcase who they are away from the game of cricket.”
The Player Insights concept is to make the Momentum Proteas more accessible to the cricket loving public and stakeholders leading up to the Women’s World Cup in 2022 and to drive an always on digital presence focusing on Women’s cricket, pre and post Momentum Proteas matches leading up to the CWC and beyond.
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications