Proteas Women’s star player Nonkululeko “Leftie” Mlaba says she will swiftly turn her attention to the forthcoming 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India in September. This is at the back of her sweeping four of the five awards she was nominated for at the Cricket SA Awards last week.
The 25-year-old left-handed spinner was the most decorated honoree after walking away with the Women’s T20 International Player of the Year, Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC, and the top accolade, the Women’s Player of the Year.
Speaking to Sunday World shortly after the award ceremony, the visibly elated and emotional Mlaba said her focus now is to take her game to the next level. “So, my focus now is the World Cup because I really want to help the team deliver the trophy this time around. Plus, I also have individual goals as well, and one of them is to be in the Top 10 best bowlers in the world.
“But, as far as the World Cup is concerned, the team is in a much better space, united, and the sisterhood is stronger than before.”
Mlaba said the team is motivated by the Proteas men’s team that won the World Test Championship and will be hoping to emulate them.
“What the guys did at Lord’s was incredible, and we are now even more motivated to push even harder because we, as the women’s team, also want to make the country proud.
“We don’t want to be remembered as second best all the time; we also want to be number ones.
“So, we have a totally different mindset this time around, and I really do hope we go all the way and win it this time around,” she added.
