Shabnim Ismail, South Africa's leading wicket-taker in both ODIs and T20Is, says wearing the Protea badge again feels like an "honour" following her stunning recall to the squad for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The 37-year-old pace icon, who announced her retirement from international cricket nearly three years ago, has been granted a return as the Proteas prepare for another shot at lifting their maiden ICC crown after finishing as runners-up in the 2023 and 2024 Women's T20 World Cups and the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup.

The emotional return

Ismail's decision to come out of retirement was shaped by conversations with those close to her and the persuasion of head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. "I'm coming back, first of all, because I miss playing cricket. I miss playing at the highest level, and I miss obviously putting on the badge and going out there and performing," she explained. The veteran fast bowler credited Mashimbyi's approach: "He was like, take your time to make the decision. I'm not forcing you to play, but I really need and want you to come back and help us win the World Cup."

Why the World Cup matters

For Ismail, this World Cup represents more than a personal milestone. South Africa's repeated failures in ICC finals, despite reaching multiple tournaments, point to a mental rather than skill-based issue. "We've made finals after finals. I think it's just that one element. I don't really think it's a skill. For me, it's more the mental part of knowing that when we get to the final, how are we going to overcome that one last hurdle," she said. This is the Proteas' third consecutive World Cup final appearance in a span of three years, making the psychological dimension critical to their chances.

Leadership and squad depth

Ismail was quick to acknowledge the quality of the current South African squad, crediting experienced stars such as Marizanne Kapp, Tumi Sekhukhune, and Ayabonga Khaka for maintaining the side's standing among the world's elite during her absence. "To be honest, I don't actually think the team needs me. I think they've been doing phenomenal," she noted. However, she sees her role as helping younger players embrace the occasion and learn from seasoned teammates. "They should be going out there and saying, 'You know what, I'm playing with the best in the world. So if I can't beat them, let me join them and help us win the World Cup.'"

The path forward

Ismail expressed confidence that this could finally be South Africa's moment on the biggest stage. "I have a good feeling that, you know what, we can actually do it this time. And I always say 'third time lucky'," she said. Her return adds both experience and a psychological boost to a squad hungry to break its ICC final curse.