Mandla Mashimbyi wants more women in cricket dialogue

He says there needs to be more women participating in cricket dialogue like the one held last week Friday, and have conversations about how they can contribute to the growth of the game in the country to benefit future players. 

“It’s a very good initiative. It’s important for people to understand where they come from. I think the evolution of women’s cricket was a really good one for me because the players got to understand that there were people before them who paved the way”, he told SABC Sport from Barbados where they’re set to play against the West Indies.

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The panel-based event covered matters like the evolution of women’s cricket, marketing, commercialisation, and sponsorship, as well as the future of women’s cricket. 

Former Proteas Women players like Linda Olivier, Claire Terblanche, Dinesha Devnarain, and the first black South African international, Nolubabalo Ndzundzu were also in attendance, while current skipper Laura Wolvaardt and U19 star Kayla Reyneke provided context for where women’s cricket is at and where it’s going.

“The relevancy now with the current crop of players is to inspire the next generation as well, which they’ve done so far by reaching the two finals [successive T20 World Cup finals]. I think it was a good inspiration for women in cricket”, said Mashimbyi

“And obviously, taking it forward and hoping we put plans in place that are going to help women in cricket carry this flag forward. 

"Then I think from a structural point of view, from an administrative point of view, from a coaching point of view it was important for us to understand where we come from, where we are, and what we need to do to get to where we want to get to as an ecosystem.”