Ayabonga Khaka set to become first South African player to feature in Women’s T20 Challenge

South African bowler Ayabonga Khaka is set to play in the third edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge in the UAE starting from November 4, a source close to the development confirmed to Women’s CricZone. The tournament which was scheduled to happen earlier in April, was postponed due to the rising cases of coronavirus in India.



“Laura Wolvaardt and Ayabonga Khaka have been approached (to play in the Women’s T20 Challenge),” the source said on Tuesday (October 6) on condition of anonymity. “Khaka has expressed interest and will come.”



However, Wolvaardt can’t play in the Indian tournament since she has already been signed by Adelaide Strikers. No other player has been approached in place of Wolvaardt.



Earlier in the month, the website has also reported that two Bangladesh players and Sri Lankan Chamari Atapattu and Shashikala Siriwardena will be a part of the T20 Challenge. All three teams – Trailblazers, Velocity and Supernovas – will play against each other once with the top two teams in the points table making it to the final.



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However, it is still not clear whether the players will be reshuffled to form a completely new-looked squad. The whole contingent will be arriving in Dubai on October 21 following which they will have to be in mandatory quarantine till October 28.



Khaka, who made her debut in 2012, was a part of the South Africa squad in the T20 World Cup in Australia earlier this year. She played four matches picking up four wickets with the best of 3/25 against England. If Khaka gets a game, she will become the first South African to feature in the tournament.



With the recent turmoil going Cricket South Africa, it was least expected any player from rainbow nation would take part in the tournament and that too at a time when the board is going through a turmoil. Meanwhile, Wolvaardt along with seven other players have already reached Australia for the Women’s Big Bash League.