Dillon du Preez will continue to coach the side in an interim capacity, after taking over Hilton Moreeng in June. South Africa have yet to appoint a permanent head coach.

“The message is very clear,” du Preez said. “She’s opted to come back and play provincial cricket and she’s got to try and knock down the door, do whatever she does best, and then we’ll consider and see how it goes forward.”

“She’s got good attributes as a quick bowler,” du Preez said. “We followed her in the provincial competition, and definitely look at her excitement as a bowler, and going into a World Cup as a player that is not known to quite a few countries. We’re looking at what she can bring towards and complement her bowling attack.”

Naidu’s career is in its infancy but she has already played in a major continental tournament as well. She was part of the South African Emerging Women’s squad that competed at the Africa Games in Ghana earlier this year and has been identified as a future star.

“Seshnie Naidu has shown significant growth as a bowler within our camps, and we see her as an X-factor for the World Cup,” du Preez said. “She brings a unique element to our bowling attack, offering something different that could be pivotal.”

Another Dolphins player, Nonkululekho Mlaba, who was once ranked second in the world in T20Is, will lead the spin attack. South Africa have several seam options including Khaka, Tumi Sekhukune, de Klerk and Kapp. If there is a concern, it may be around batting depth with the squad overly reliant on Wolvaardt and Brits especially as Sune Luus has struggled for form. The former captain has not scored more than 19 in any of her six innings in T20Is this year and has been dismissed in single figures four times.

Luus’ dip came after she led South Africa in their stunning run to last year’s T20 World Cup final and as a team, their performances have followed suit. Since that tournament, South Africa have only won five out of 15 T20Is and have lost series to Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka.

Like all the other teams at the tournament, South Africa have never played an international in Dubai but Luus and Khaka have some experience of Sharjah. They were in the squad that played against Pakistan in a series in 2015.

“The management group has consulted in depth in the past week around all the conditions and all the potential factors that could impact things,” du Preez said. “It’s going to be difficult to adapt. However, we feel that the squad that we’ve got will be able to complement us on the field of play.”

South Africa squad

Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon
Travelling Reserve: Miané Smit