South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail on Wednesday announced her retirement from international cricket, but confirmed she will be available to play global T20 leagues to balance family and cricket.
Ismail played in more than 100 ODIs and T20Is for South Africa and is considered one of the fastest ever in the women’s game.
The 34-year-old was in fine form as South Africa reached the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the first ever in senior cricket for the nation. Sune Luus-led South Africa eventually lost to Australia as Ismail finished the tournament with fifth most wickets (8) and the second most dot balls. She registered arguably the fastest over ever bowled in women’s game at the recent World Cup.
“As any athlete knows, training and competing at your best requires much sacrifice and dedication, and I now find myself wanting to spend more time with my family, particularly my siblings and parents as they get older,” Ismail said in the statement released by Cricket South Africa.
“They have always been my biggest support and I want to be able to be there for them in the way they have been there for me over the past 16 years. I really believe that reducing the amount of cricket I play will enable me to do this, and playing in global leagues, is the only way I see to be able to fit in both family and cricket.”
That World Cup final will now be Ismail’s last international match. Since then she featured for UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League and also played in the Fairbreak Invitational.
Shabnim Ismail's career
| FORMAT | Mat | Inns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 1 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 2/5 | 6.66 | 0.80 | 50.0 |
| ODIs | 127 | 126 | 3812 | 191 | 6/10 | 19.95 | 3.70 | 32.3 |
| T20Is | 113 | 112 | 2291 | 123 | 5/12 | 18.62 | 5.77 | 19.3 |
Ismail finishes with 191 ODI wickets (second most, behind Jhulan Goswami) and 123 T20I wickets.
Leading wicket-takers in women's ODIs
| Player | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goswami (IND) | 204 | 255 | 6/31 | 22.04 | 3.37 | 39.23 |
| Ismail (SA) | 127 | 191 | 6/10 | 19.95 | 3.70 | 32.30 |
| Fitzpatrick (AUS) | 109 | 180 | 5/14 | 16.79 | 3.01 | 33.42 |
| Mohammed (WI) | 141 | 180 | 7/14 | 20.75 | 3.58 | 34.73 |
| K Sciver-Brunt (ENG) | 141 | 170 | 5/18 | 24.00 | 3.57 | 40.27 |
Here’s Ismail’s full statement:
Dear Cricket Family,
After 16 years proudly representing my country, I have come to the difficult decision to retire from international cricket and move on to the next chapter of my life.
As any athlete knows, training and competing at your best requires much sacrifice and dedication, and I now find myself wanting to spend more time with my family, particularly my siblings and parents as they get older. They have always been my biggest support and I want to be able to be there for them in the way they have been there for me over the past 16 years. I really believe that reducing the amount of cricket I play will enable me to do this, and playing in global leagues, is the only way I see to be able to fit in both family and cricket.
As I look back on my international career, I am so grateful for all the opportunities and experiences I have had. I have loved being able to compete at the highest level and I am so proud of being able to be part of a wonderful group of players who have led the way for women in cricket. The memories I have will stay with me forever.
I want to thank Cricket South Africa, my teammates, coaches, and medical support staff for all their input and support over the years. What a journey it has been, and one that would not have been as meaningful if you had not been a part of it.
To my fans - thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement. Your messages and cheers have lifted me up and kept me going when times were tough. I truly appreciate every one of you.
As I step into this new stage of life, I am excited to explore new opportunities and spend more time with those I love. However, cricket will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to be a proud ambassador for the sport in South Africa.
I look forward to continuing to perform at the highest level over the next few years across various T20 competitions across the globe.
Thank you for everything.
Shabnim Ismail
Some reactions to Ismail’s retirement:
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