Proteas Women: Mandla Mashimbyi keeps door open for Shabnim Ismail return amid bowling woes

Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi has yet to convince veteran fast bowler Shabnim Ismail to rescind her international retirement, but admits “the door will always be open for her.”

The Proteas' bowling attack has lacked a pace spearhead since Ismail’s decision to play only franchise and domestic cricket after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final back in 2023. This was particularly evident during the tour to New Zealand last month with the White Ferns claiming a dominant 4-1 victory in the T20Is and also clinching the ODI series 2-1. 

The ODIs were particularly galling with the Kiwis chasing down a record 350/8 in the second match before recovering from 3/3 to post 306/7 in the series decider. 

Mashimbyi has been frank about his team’s bowling limitations, especially in the pace department, and has been desperate in trying to persuade Ismail to make an international comeback. 

Unfortunately, he’s not been successful as yet, after the squad was named for the upcoming India T20I series on Monday without the 37-year-old. Longtime new-ball partner Marizanne Kapp is also not available for selection as the experienced all-rounder continues her rehabilitation from illness.

“I did speak to her (Ismail),” Mashimbyi admitted. “I think last year sometime and then I told her that, you know, whenever she feels that she's ready to come back, I'm always available and the door will always be open for her. 

“It would be nice to have a player of Shabnam's calibre in our bowling attack, to be honest with you. So, maybe she will call me tomorrow, you know, and if she does, that would be great, to be honest with you.

“At the end of the day, we need to work with what we have at the moment ... Our bowling was not up to standard, and we need to understand exactly what it is about our bowling where we're lacking.”

Despite missing her second successive series and only playing two international matches during the home summer against Pakistan, Mashimbyi is confident Kapp will be ready for the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in the UK in a couple of months' time.

“Kappie's doing really well. She started with a (return to play) now and a rehab. So, she should be fine,” he said. “Unfortunately, she won't be ready for the India tour.

"There's a silver lining there because then it means that she'll rest a little bit more. And then just before we go, she will be shooting for more cylinders and she'll be hungry. I actually spoke to her the other day, and she is looking forward to coming back into the environment and making an impact.”

The Proteas have called up uncapped Titans wicketkeeper Tebogo Macheke after a wrist injury ruled Karabo Meso out of the tour, while Titans bowling all-rounder Eliz-Mari Marx has also been recalled to the T20I squad, replacing seamer Masabata Klaas, in the only two changes to the side that toured New Zealand.

Mashimbyi has, however, revamped his backroom staff with strength and conditioning coach Tumi Masekela, former Western Province men’s batter Andrew Puttick (batting coach) and former Northern Cape Heat head coach Mduduzi Mbhatha (fielding coach) joining the squad through to the end of the World Cup, after batting coach Baakier Abrahams, fielding coach Bongani Ndaba, and Strength and Conditioning coach Zane Webster’s contracts were not renewed.

The first T20I against India will be played at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

Proteas Women’s T20I squad v India Women

Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, Tebogo Macheke, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon