Shabnim Ismail

Shabnim Ismail (born 5 October 1988) is a South African former international cricketer who made her debut for the national women's team in January 2007. A right-arm fast bowler, Ismail is South Africa's all-time leading wicket-taker in both the One Day International and Twenty20 International formats. She has earned a reputation as one of the fastest female bowlers in the world having recorded the fastest ball bowled by a female of 132.1 kilometres per hour (82.1 mph) during the WPL in 2024. She has played in every edition of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 tournament since its inception in 2009. She has featured in ICC World Twenty20 on eight occasions in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023. During her early years, she was a second-change bowler and later transformed herself into a frontline bowler leading the bowling attack and usually opening the bowling. She remained a vital cog of South African bowling attack for over a decade. She usually opened the bowling alongside Marizanne Kapp which was arguably one of the best fast-bowling combinations in women's international cricket. In January 2021, Ismail became just the fourth bowler to take her 100th wicket in WT20Is. As of 2022, she holds the record for having taken the most number of wickets at a single venue in the history of WODIs with 24 scalps which she achieved at the Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. On 3 May 2023, Ismail announced her retirement from international cricket. On 12 May 2026, Ismail announced she was reversing her decision to retire and was included in South Africa's squad for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.

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