Zaahier Adams
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced the Proteas’ 15-player squad for the ICC Women’s World Cup at its offices in Illovo yesterday.
There were a couple of surprises, namely uncapped 18-year-old leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu and 20-year-old seamer Ayanda Hlubi, who both played in the ICC Under-19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa two years ago. But primarily the core of the squad that reached a first World Cup final in Cape Town last year was retained.
ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD
Congratulations to the following players who have been named in the @proteaswomencsa squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup taking place in the UAE from 3 to 20 October 2024.
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain)
Anneke Bosch
Tazmin Brits
Nadine de… pic.twitter.com/WREoiIeQS3
However, the point of discussion was always going to be about who was not there. There may not be major dramas associated with this squad, like there was last year when former captain Dane van Niekerk was left out after failing a fitness test, but there remains a glaring omission.
Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail retired from international cricket after the final at Newlands last year, which has left a gaping hole in the Proteas attack. There are few, if any, in the entire women’s game who bowl at the pace Ismail consistently does.
The “Cravenby Express” may be 35 years old already, but remains a consistent threat in all the franchise leagues she plays in around the world.
Ismail delivered the fastest ball by a female bowler earlier this year when she sent down a 132.1km/h delivery in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India. Just last month she claimed 3-24 in The Hundred final at Lord’s before bagging a further 4-16 in the Caribbean Premier League.
The Proteas’ attack has been toothless since Ismail’s international retirement, and more should have been done to convince the fast bowler to have another crack at winning the T20 World Cup.
The journey to T20 glory begins now! 🌍🏏
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 1, 2024
Presenting the fixtures for the Proteas Women in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup taking place in the UAE.
Get ready to support our team as they battle the best in the world! 🇿🇦💪 #AlwaysRising #WozaNawe #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/reECEpviLD
Proteas convenor of selectors Clinton du Preez stated he has had “no conversation” with Ismail about a possible international U-turn. CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe was, however, more forthcoming and admitted that he had reached out to the fast bowler.
“I did manage to speak to her from my position and she made it clear that she is just going to focus on the leagues. If something does change … but I don’t foresee that in the way she is enjoying the leagues and spending more time with family as well. That’s been the priority with her.”
The reference to “spending more time with family” sounds fairly similar to the situation Proteas Men’s wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock was in not so long ago. De Kock also declined a national contract and has since retired from both Test and ODI cricket, but remained available to the Proteas T20 side as long as he could play in the various T20 leagues around the world.
CSA, Nkwe and the Proteas white-ball coach navigated the situation, which has allowed De Kock to still play a major role at global ICC tournaments. A similar situation should have been manufactured for Ismail’s return.
Proteas Women’s squad: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon