'It felt unreal,' Karabo Meso relives being included in the World Cup squad
Karabo Meso of South Africa batting against Australia during the ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup in January. | Getty Images via ICC
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The youngest member of the Proteas women’s squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is Karabo Meso, who is only 17 years of age.
The wicket-keeper/batter was playing in the under-19 women’s World Cup at 15 years of age two years ago, and now finds herself in the senior team, on the plane to represent the country in the World Cup.
She admitted that she had never planned to be where she is so early and that she had given herself at least five years to break into the senior team.
As a result, when the Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez, gave her a call to confirm that she is in the World Cup squad, she was ecstatic.
“I've given myself to be in this team in the next five years, and then things have just unfolded the way God put them. You never know what's going to happen the next day, and this is what just happened in three years, and I'm really grateful," Meso said.
“I was in Sun City. I was at the Lions' team building, and we were having a team dinner. I thought my mom was calling me because she said she was going to call me. And then when I pick up my phone, it was the selector, and I was like, oh, I hope it's good news.
“I went to the side, and then it felt unreal. I probably asked him, ‘me?’ And then he kept saying, ‘yes, you.’ My sister was there, and I’m really glad she was there. We shed a tear together, which really means a lot to me.”
The youngster has an opportunity to play her first World Cup game, a feat that could be overwhelming to any player, let alone a 17-year-old who is still in High School.
However, Meso understands that she only needs to be herself and not look to do anything out of the ordinary.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I've been thinking big things. For me, it's just being the person I am all the time. I can't be someone else because I'm going to a World Cup,” said Meso.
“(I only have to stick to) just being KB, just enjoying every moment, that the coach is giving me the opportunity to play or whether or not, support my team, everyone around me and just play cricket.”
Meso and her teammates will play three ODIs in Lahore from 16 – 22 September, before they start their World Cup campaign against England Women on 03 October.