Momentum Proteas fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has announced her retirement from international cricket.
The 34-year-old bows out after representing Mzansi in 241 international ODI, T20I and Test matches.
In a statement, Ismail said she wants to focus on her family, however, she will continue playing T20 franchise cricket around the world.
“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,” Ismail said.
“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.”
Ismail becomes the fifth Protea player to call time on her international career, the national squad has also seen Mignon du Preez, Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk and Trisha Chetty retire.
Ismail’s last appearance in the green and gold was in the historic Women’s T20 World Cup final against the eventual champions, Australia, on home soil in February.
The fast bowler has been credited with sending down the quickest delivery in women’s cricket.
During the T20 World Cup semi-final against England, she bowled a 128kmh (80mph) delivery – the fastest recorded in the women’s game.
“This is a poignant but celebratory moment for South African cricket and the global game as a whole, as we celebrate and honour an incredible cricketer in Shabnim Ismail,” Enoch Nkwe, Cricket South Africa (CSA’s) Director of Cricket said.
Women’s sports is on the rise and all these retirements come at a time of transition for women’s cricket in the country.
CSA are working to further professionalise the women’s game with plans of appointing a women’s director of cricket and a fully professional domestic league in the works for the 2023/23 season.
There are also expectations of equal match fees for women’s and men’s teams imminently.
