On May 3, 2023, Shabnim Ismail, one of the fastest bowlers in the women's cricket circuit, announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old Shabnim has decided to retire from international cricket to focus on her family and playing T20 domestic cricket around the world. In her official statement, Shabnim said that she wants to reduce the amount of cricket she plays so that she can spend more time with her family, particularly her siblings and parents, as they get older. She added that playing in global leagues is the only way she can fit in both family and cricket.
Shabnim Ismail made her international cricket debut in an ODI against Pakistan on January 20, 2007, in Pretoria. She appeared in 241 matches for South Africa across all formats, taking 317 wickets. She ends her ODI career as the second highest wicket-taker, only bettered by India's legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami, who picked 255 wickets. Shabnim also finishes her ODI career with the most wickets taken at a single ground in women's cricket, through 24 wickets in 17 matches at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
In T20Is, Shabnim picked 123 wickets in 113 matches at a strike rate of 19.30 with career-best figures of 5/12 against Pakistan in 2021. She has also taken the most T20I wickets where the batter was bowled, with 42 deliveries dismantling the stumps.
During a 16-year international career, Shabnim featured in four ODI World Cups between 2009-2022 as well as in all eight T20 World Cups, beginning with the 2009 edition before culminating in the momentous 2023 edition held in South Africa. Shabnim helped South Africa to two semi-final finishes (2017, 2022) in the ODI World Cups, with the 34-year-old also playing a leading role in guiding her nation to a semi-final and a final appearance in the T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2023.
Shabnim Ismail is known for her fierce competitiveness, and her rapid pace that regularly surpassed 120kph throughout her career. Her retirement is a poignant moment for South African cricket and the global game as a whole, as fans celebrate and honor an incredible cricketer who has inspired the next generation of cricketers during her remaining domestic career in all parts of the globe.