# Ayabonga Khaka

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South African cricketer

"Khaka" redirects here. For the ethnic group in Kashmir, see [Khakha](/source/Khakha).

Ayabonga Khaka Khaka at the 2020 T20 World Cup Personal information Born (1992-07-18) 18 July 1992 (age 33) Middledrift, Eastern Cape, South Africa Batting Right-handed Bowling Right-arm medium Role Bowler International information National side South Africa (2012–present) ODI debut (cap 62) 6 September 2012 v Bangladesh Last ODI 2 November 2025 v India ODI shirt no. 99 T20I debut (cap 29) 11 September 2012 v Bangladesh Last T20I 20 October 2024 v New Zealand T20I shirt no. 99 Domestic team information Years Team 2007/08–2016/17 Border 2017/18–present Central Gauteng 2020/21 Supernovas 2022 Velocity 2022 Guyana Amazon Warriors Career statistics Competition WODI WT20I Matches 103 68 Runs scored 125 36 Batting average 4.80 12.00 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 Top score 15 8* Balls bowled 4,861 1,373 Wickets 131 54 Bowling average 25.81 28.29 5 wickets in innings 1 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 5/26 4/23 Catches/stumpings 30/– 11/– Medal record Women's cricket Representing South Africa ICC Cricket World Cup Runner-up 2025 India ICC T20 World Cup Runner-up 2023 South Africa Runner-up 2024 UAE Source: ESPNcricinfo, 21 October 2024

**Ayabonga Khaka** (born 18 July 1992) is a South African [cricketer](/source/Cricket) who plays for the [national cricket team](/source/South_Africa_women's_national_cricket_team) as a right-arm [medium](/source/Fast_bowling) [bowler](/source/Bowling_(cricket)).[1][2]

## Early life and education

Khaka was born and raised in [Middledrift](/source/Middledrift%2C_Eastern_Cape) (also Middeldrift or Ixesi), near [Alice](/source/Alice%2C_Eastern_Cape) in [Eastern Cape](/source/Eastern_Cape).[3][4] Her first experience of cricket was playing it in the streets of her home town.[4] She started playing the game formally while in grade 1 at Ingwenya Primary School. That year, at the age of seven, she became the only girl in the boys mini cricket team.[5][6][7]

Right from the beginning, Khaka preferred bowling to batting, as she was less likely to be hit by the ball, and it was challenging, especially against boys. She took particular pleasure in getting boys out. Another reason she liked cricket is that it involved a lot of discipline.[5]

Khaka continued playing mini cricket until she was 14, because no other choices were available to her, and she did not know about women's cricket. Then she started at Ntabenkonyana Senior Secondary School, where not much cricket was played. She therefore quit playing cricket, and took up soccer. The following year, when she was in grade 9, she resumed playing cricket, this time for Middledrift Women's Cricket Club.[5][6][4]

Eventually, Khaka had to choose between cricket and football. She opted for cricket because she enjoyed it more.[5] While playing at Middledrift Women's Cricket Club, she was selected for the Border Under 19 girls' team, and also played simultaneously for [the senior provincial team](/source/Border_women's_cricket_team). In 2009, she was selected for the national Under 19 team.[4]

Khaka spent much of her early career working with former [men's national team](/source/South_Africa_national_cricket_team) fast bowler [Mfuneko Ngam](/source/Mfuneko_Ngam) at the cricket academy of the [University of Fort Hare](/source/University_of_Fort_Hare) in Alice.[8] As of 2020[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ayabonga_Khaka&action=edit), she was studying Human Movement Sciences at the university.[3]

## Career

Khaka made her debut for the national team in September 2012 against Bangladesh.[1] In May 2018, she took her 50th wicket in [Women's One Day Internationals](/source/Women's_One_Day_International) (WODIs), during the series [against Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh_women's_cricket_team_in_South_Africa_in_2018).[9]

In September 2019, she was named in the [F van der Merwe XI](/source/Thistles_(women's_cricket)) squad for the inaugural edition of the [Women's T20 Super League](/source/Women's_T20_Super_League) in South Africa.[10][11] In January 2020, she was named in South Africa's squad for the [2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup](/source/2020_ICC_Women's_T20_World_Cup) in Australia.[12] On 23 July 2020, Khaka was named in South Africa's 24-woman squad to begin training in [Pretoria](/source/Pretoria), ahead of their [tour to England](/source/South_Africa_women's_cricket_team_in_England_in_2020).[13]

In January 2022, in the second match [against the West Indies](/source/West_Indies_women's_cricket_team_in_South_Africa_in_2021%E2%80%9322), Khaka took her first [five-wicket haul in WODIs](/source/List_of_five-wicket_hauls_in_women's_One_Day_International_cricket), with 5 for 26.[14] In February 2022, she was named in South Africa's team for the [2022 Women's Cricket World Cup](/source/2022_Women's_Cricket_World_Cup) in New Zealand.[15] In South Africa's first match of the tournament, against Bangladesh, Khaka took her 100th wicket in WODI cricket.[16]

In May 2022, Khaka played for the Spirit team in the privately run [2022 FairBreak Invitational T20](/source/2022_FairBreak_Invitational_T20) in [Dubai](/source/Dubai), United Arab Emirates. On 8 May 2022, she bagged the tournament's first [five-wicket haul](/source/Five-wicket_haul), by taking 5/9 against the Sapphires. She was also awarded [player of the match](/source/Player_of_the_match).[17][18] At the end of the Invitational, she was included in the Team of the Tournament, after taking a total of nine wickets.[18]

In June 2022, Khaka was named in South Africa's [Women's Test](/source/Women's_Test_cricket) squad for their one-off match [against England Women](/source/South_Africa_women's_cricket_team_in_England_in_2022).[19] In July 2022, she was named in South Africa's team for the [cricket tournament](/source/Cricket_at_the_2022_Commonwealth_Games) at the [2022 Commonwealth Games](/source/2022_Commonwealth_Games) in [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), England.[20] In August 2022, she was signed as an overseas player for [Guyana Amazon Warriors](/source/Guyana_Amazon_Warriors_(WCPL)) for the inaugural edition of the [Women's Caribbean Premier League](/source/2022_Women's_Caribbean_Premier_League).[21]

She was named in the South Africa squad for the [2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup](/source/2024_ICC_Women's_T20_World_Cup)[22] and for the ODI part of their multi-format [home series against England](/source/England_women's_cricket_team_in_South_Africa_in_2024%E2%80%9325) in November 2024.[23][24]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cricinfo_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cricinfo_1-1) ["Ayabonga Khaka"](http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/387261.html). *ESPNcricinfo*. Retrieved 12 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-contract_2-0)** ["Ntozakhe added to CSA womens' \[sic\] contracts"](http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/1140181.html). *ESPNcricinfo*. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-en_2020-03-13_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-en_2020-03-13_3-1) Felem, Ayanda Frances (13 March 2020). ["Ayabonga Khaka: Representing my country a dream come true"](https://ewn.co.za/2020/03/13/ayabonga-khaka-represing-my-country-a-dream-come-true). *Eyewitness News (South Africa)*. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-g_2020-06-04_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-g_2020-06-04_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-g_2020-06-04_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-g_2020-06-04_4-3) Abrahams, Celine (4 June 2020). ["Ayabonga Khaka Living Her Cricket Dream"](https://gsport.co.za/ayabonga-khaka-living-her-cricket-dream/). *gsport*. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tdv_2018-03-29_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tdv_2018-03-29_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tdv_2018-03-29_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-tdv_2018-03-29_5-3) Moosa, Fatima (29 March 2018). ["Protea Bowler Ayabonga Khaka On Her Cricket Journey"](https://www.thedailyvox.co.za/protea-bowler-ayabonga-khaka-on-her-cricket-journey-fatima-moosa/). *The Daily Vox*. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tl_2020-03-08_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tl_2020-03-08_6-1) Tshwaku, Khanyiso (8 March 2020). ["Proteas Women's Ayabonga Khaka shows her fighting spirit"](https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/sport/2020-03-08-proteas-womens-ayabonga-khaka-shows-her-fighting-spirit/). *[TimesLIVE](/source/TimesLIVE)*. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-d_2018-12-07_7-0)** DRUM Digital (7 December 2018). ["Meet the Proteas women's squad"](https://www.news24.com/drum/PartnerContent/meet-the-proteas-womens-squad-20181127-4). *[Drum](/source/Drum_(South_African_magazine))*. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tc_2022-03-21_8-0)** Upendran, Ananya (21 March 2022). ["Ayabonga Khaka is South Africa's underrated seam dynamo"](https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/premium/ayabonga_khaka_is_south_africas_underrated_seam_dynamo.html). *[The Cricketer](/source/The_Cricketer)*. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Khaka50_9-0)** ["Ayabonga Khaka brings up 50 with career-best figures"](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/682386). *International Cricket Council*. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Cricket South Africa launches four-team women's T20 league"](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27549831/cricket-south-africa-launches-four-team-women-t20-league). *ESPNcricinfo*. Retrieved 8 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["CSA launches inaugural Women's T20 Super League"](https://cricket.co.za/news/31581/CSA-launches-inaugural-Womens-T20-Super-League). *Cricket South Africa*. Retrieved 8 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["South Africa news Dane van Niekerk to lead experienced South Africa squad in T20 World Cup"](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1570764). *International Cricket Council*. Retrieved 13 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["CSA to resume training camps for women's team"](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29522505/csa-resume-training-camps-women-team). *ESPNcricinfo*. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Dottin powers West Indies to dramatic Super Over win in Johannesburg"](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2468234). *International Cricket Council*. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Lizelle Lee returns as South Africa announce experience-laden squad for Women's World Cup"](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/womens-world-cup-2022-lizelle-lee-returns-as-south-africa-announce-experience-laden-squad-1299857). *Cricket South Africa*. Retrieved 4 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Ayabonga Khaka bowls South Africa to hard-fought win over Bangladesh"](https://www.womenscriczone.com/ayabonga-khaka-bowls-south-africa-to-hard-fought-win-over-bangladesh). *Women's CricZone*. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-g_2022-05-09_17-0)** gsport Newsroom (9 May 2022). ["History Maker Ayabonga Khaka Destined for Bigger Leagues"](https://gsport.co.za/history-maker-ayabonga-khaka-destined-for-bigger-leagues/). *gsport*. Retrieved 10 May 2022. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: |author= has generic name ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-csa_2022-05-16_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-csa_2022-05-16_18-1) ["CSA congratulates Luus and Khaka after FairBreak Invitational success"](https://cricket.co.za/2022/05/16/csa-congratulates-luus-and-khaka-after-fairbreak-invitational-success/). *[Cricket South Africa](/source/Cricket_South_Africa)*. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Kapp, Lee and Jafta mark their return as South Africa announce squad for one-off Test and ODIs against England"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221116083818/https://www.womenscriczone.com/south-africa-announce-15-member-squad-for-the-tour-of-england). *Women's CricZone*. Archived from [the original](https://www.womenscriczone.com/south-africa-announce-15-member-squad-for-the-tour-of-england) on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["No Dane van Niekerk for Commonwealth Games too, Luus to continue as South Africa captain"](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cwg-2022-birmingham-no-dane-van-niekerk-for-commonwealth-games-too-luus-to-continue-as-south-africa-captain-1324867). *ESPNcricinfo*. Retrieved 15 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Athapaththu, Khaka and Luus brought in for Women's CPL and 6ixty"](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/chamari-athapaththu-ayabonga-khaka-and-sune-luus-brought-in-for-womens-cpl-and-6ixty-1329403). *ESPNcricinfo*. Retrieved 16 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["CSA Names Proteas Women Squad For Pakistan Series And T20 World Cup In UAE"](https://cricket.co.za/csa-names-proteas-women-squad-for-pakistan-series-and-t20-world-cup-in-uae/). *Cricket South Africa*. Retrieved 3 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["CSA Names Proteas Women Squads To Face England In T20I And ODI Series"](https://cricket.co.za/csa-names-proteas-women-squads-to-face-england-in-t20i-and-odi-series/). Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 12 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["South Africa rest Kapp for T20 series with England"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cdd0rm91rnyo). BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2024.

## External links

Media related to [Ayabonga Khaka](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ayabonga_Khaka) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Ayabonga Khaka](https://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/387261.html) at [Cricinfo](/source/Cricinfo)

- [Ayabonga Khaka](https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/415/415929/415929.html) at [CricketArchive](/source/CricketArchive) (subscription required)

South Africa squads v t e South Africa squad – 2012 Women's World Twenty20 1 du Preez (c) 2 Chetty (wk) 3 Benade 4 Devnarain 5 Fritz 6 Hodgkinson 7 Ismail 8 Kapp 9 Khaka 10 Letsoalo 11 Loubser 12 Luus 13 van der Westhuizen 14 van Niekerk v t e South Africa squad – 2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20 22 du Preez (c) 8 Chetty (wk) 15 Daniels 17 Devnarain 21 Fourie 89 Ismail 7 Kapp 89 Khaka 5 Klaas 67 Lee 11 Letsoalo 96 Luus 81 van Niekerk 25 Tryon Kirsten v t e South Africa squad – 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup semi-finalists 1 van Niekerk (c) 2 Chetty 3 Daniels 4 Ismail 5 Kapp 6 Khaka 7 Klaas 8 de Klerk 9 Lee 10 Luus 11 Ntozakhe 12 du Preez 13 Steyn 14 Tryon 15 Wolvaardt v t e South Africa squad – 2020 Women's T20 World Cup semi-finalists 1 van Niekerk (c) 2 Tryon 3 Chetty (wk) 4 Ismail 5 Kapp 6 Khaka 7 Klaas 8 de Klerk 9 Lee 10 Luus 11 Mlaba 12 du Preez 13 Sekhukhune 14 Shangase 15 Wolvaardt v t e South Africa squad – 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup semi-finalists 1 Luus (c) 2 Tryon 3 Khaka 4 Goodall 5 Wolvaardt 6 Lee 7 Kapp 8 Klaas 9 du Preez 10 Mlaba 11 Ismail 12 Jafta 13 Brits 14 Chetty (wk) 15 Sekhukhune v t e South Africa squad – 2023 Women's T20 World Cup runners-up Luus (c) Tryon Bosch Brits de Klerk Dercksen Goodall Ismail Jafta (wk) Kapp Khaka Klaas Mlaba Tucker Wolvaardt Coach: Moreeng v t e South Africa squad – 2024 Women's T20 World Cup 14 Laura Wolvaardt (c) 27 Anneke Bosch 1 Tazmin Brits 32 Nadine de Klerk 77 Annerie Dercksen 19 Mieke de Ridder (wk) 17 Ayanda Hlubi 10 Sinalo Jafta (wk) 7 Marizanne Kapp 99 Ayabonga Khaka 96 Suné Luus 28 Nonkululeko Mlaba 21 Seshnie Naidu 12 Tumi Sekhukhune 25 Chloe Tryon Coach: Dillon du Preez Miané Smit as standby players for the team. v t e South Africa squad – 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup – Runners-up 1 Brits 4 Shangase 5 Klaas 7 Kapp 10 Jafta (wk) 12 Sekhukhune 14 Wolvaardt (c) 25 Tryon 27 Bosch 28 Mlaba 32 de Klerk 72 Meso (wk) 77 Dercksen 96 Luus 99 Khaka Coach: Mandla Mashimbyi Reserves: Miané Smit

v t e Bowlers who have taken 100 Women's ODI wickets Australia Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180) Ellyse Perry (166) Megan Schutt (148) Lisa Sthalekar (146) Jess Jonassen (141) Ashleigh Gardner (124) England Katherine Sciver-Brunt (170) Sophie Ecclestone (141) Jenny Gunn (136) Laura Marsh (129) Anya Shrubsole (106) Clare Taylor (102) Kate Cross (101) Isa Guha (101) India Jhulan Goswami (255) Deepti Sharma (166) Neetu David (141) Nooshin Al Khadeer (100) New Zealand Amelia Kerr (129) Lea Tahuhu (125) Sophie Devine (111) Pakistan Sana Mir (151) Nashra Sandhu (117) Nida Dar (108) South Africa Shabnim Ismail (191) Marizanne Kapp (181) Ayabonga Khaka (151) Dane van Niekerk (138) Suné Luus (128) Sri Lanka Shashikala Siriwardene (124) West Indies Anisa Mohammed (180) Stafanie Taylor (157) Hayley Matthews (135) Afy Fletcher (119) Current players are listed in italics. Updated 17 May 2026.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ayabonga Khaka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayabonga_Khaka) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayabonga_Khaka?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.