The Proteas Women’s squad for next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to feature a shock return to the international fold for a former star.
IOL reports that fast bowler Shabnim Ismail will be among the names when the squad is announced.
The squad announcement had been due to take place on Monday morning but Cricket SA postponed this at the last minute “due to a need for further internal reviews”.
CSA said a new squad announcement date would be shared in due course..
The 37-year-old fast Ismail made her Proteas debut back in 2007.
However, she retired from international cricket after the home T20 World Cup in 2023, when South Africa reached the final for the first time.
CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe and Proteas head coach Mandla Mashimbyi have reportedly held talks with Ismail in an attempt to convince the veteran pacer to reverse her international retirement.
The Proteas qualified for a second T20 World Cup final in 2024, and also progressed to the showpiece event at the ODI World Cup in India last year.
However, the Proteas have failed to find like-for-like replacement for speedster Ismail over the past three years.
Mashimbyi is reported to have said after the recent New Zealand tour: “We’d like to have some pace, but there is nothing on offer at the moment.”
Ismail has played in various T20 leagues around the world since her international retirement, most notably in Women’s Premier League, BBL, and The Hundred.
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