Pocket rocket Ismail back for SA
After a trying month, the Proteas’ leading wicket-taker returns for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies
SHABNIM Ismail returned to the Proteas’ Women’s squad before their trip to the West Indies, for the T20 World Cup. The team headed to the Caribbean on Tuesday for the two-week competition that begins on November 9.
It has not been as easy month for her, with personal strife preventing her from going on the short tour of the Windies earlier this month. Ismail was granted leave to deal with family grief, and she has suffered more heartache since then, losing her aunt this week.
Cricket may well be the most welcome of distractions when she gets off the plane with the rest of her teammates. Within the side, Ismail is a firecracker, a pocket rocket of a pace bowler, reknowned for generating serious speed.
However, she is not all speed and no direction. Ismail has added subtlety to her range of skills, and she regularly strikes with the new ball.
She is regarded as the fastest women’s bowler in the world, and that sets her apart for the Proteas. She is the leading wicket-taker in the side, with 72 dismissals in her 69 matches.
She leads an attack that is expected to cause more than a few headaches to Australia, England and India, especially after their efforts at the World Cup last year.
“Good luck to our Proteas ladies as they head for the West Indies with high expectations for the ICC Women’s World T20 competition,” Cricket South Africa chief executive Thabang Moroe said before their departure.
“They reached the semi-final of this tournament in Bangladesh in 2014, and came agonisingly close to a first appearance in the final in last year’s World Cup in England.
“The time has now arrived for them to take that next step forward and get into the championship match. They can take a lot of confidence out of their recently completed tour of the West Indies, where they drew both the ODI and T20 series against their hosts, who are the defending champions for the ICC World T20. They also had to make do without a number of key players.”
If Ismail continues her fine form with the ball, South Africa will definitely be dark horses for the World Cup. And, after the toughest of months off the field, no one would begrudge her the joy of making history with the rest of her teammates.
Meanwhile, the Mzansi Super League is four weeks away from launching, and there is much excitement in Durban. The locally based franchise is Durban Heat, and they returned from the player draft encouraged by the squad they had assembled.
“Yeah, we are very happy with our squad. If you look at the 16 names, there are some big names there. All six teams are well balanced and really strong.
“It is going to be a nice, exciting tournament,” Heat and Dolphins assistant coach Imraan Khan said after the draft.
Heat had first pick of the draft, for the overseas marquee player, and they plumped for Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan. The leg-spinner will be a vital player for Heat when he arrives, given his ability to turn matches on their head.
“The one thing that stands out is that it is quite an experienced squad. That should help us as the tournament advances,” Khan said.
“It is a tournament we needed in South Africa. It is new, fresh and exciting. Hopefully we get the crowds to come out as well, and get behind it.”
Durban Heat squad: Hashim Amla, Rashid Khan, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Abbott, Keshav Maharaj, Khaya Zondo, Albie Morkel, Marchant de Lange, Vernon Philander, Brandon Mavuta, Temba Bavuma, Morné van Wyk, Okuhle Cele, Sarel Erwee, Tladi Bokako.