With the ability to bowl at 80mph, Ismail is one of the world’s fastest female bowlers and will look to be one of Lightning’s deadliest weapons in the attack.
Making her international debut at just 18 years old, Ismail is no stranger to playing on the big stage. The South African fast bowler has played in multiple world cups, Twenty 20 Internationals and One Day Internationals (ODI), gaining her the title of South Africa’s all-time leading wicket taker in both ODI and Twenty20.
Having played for Yorkshire Diamonds in the inaugural season of the KSL, Ismail will return to the English league looking to replicate the impressive bowling stats from 2016. This includes figures of 2/16 from two overs against Western Storm, and 2/23 from four overs against Lancashire Thunder.
Lightning Head Coach Rob Taylor commented on the latest signing:
“I’m really looking forward to Shabnim joining us for the back end of our tournament. Hopefully it will be a key time of the competition for us and she will add some real fire power to our squad and be a real asset for us.”
Lightning’s first game of the KSL season is against Western Storm on Tuesday 6 August at Haslegrave Cricket Ground.
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