Shabnam Shakil added to India squads for multi-format South Africa series

Despite having a breakout season with Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League, Shabnam Shakil failed to make a crack into the national squad for the series against South Africa. However, after two T20Is in Bengaluru, the selection committee reversed the decision as Shakil has been added to the squad for the third ODI, the one-off Test and the three-match T20I series in Chennai.

Shakil picked up four wickets in four matches at an economy of 7 in WPL 2024. At just 16 years of age, Shakil dismissed the likes of Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alyssa Healy, and Chamari Athapaththu, which brought her into the limelight. She can be a handy batter lower down the order as well and given her age, she has all the ability to make it big in international cricket.

BCCI confirmed the development and announced the addition of the right-arm pacer on June 20. However, her inclusion in the playing XI may take some time. “The Women’s Selection Committee on Thursday announced the addition of right-arm pacer Shabnam Shakil to India’s squad for all three formats for the ongoing multi-format series against South Africa,” BCCI’s official statement read.

Also Read - Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur smash tons as India win thrilling run-fest in 2nd ODI 

Meanwhile, India have won two ODIs of the three-match series so far. In the opening game of the series, Smriti Mandhana’s century outclassed the visitors. The second game was extremely competitive but the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had the last laugh. Smriti (136 runs off 120 balls) once again rose to the occasion and hit a valuable century while the skipper Kaur made 103* runs off 88 balls to help India post 325.

South Africa fought hard in the chase as skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp hit a century each but couldn’t take the team home. Wolvaardt remained 136 not out but South Africa eventually lost the nail-biter by four runs. 

India’s updated ODI squad for the three-match ODI series:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Dayalan Hemalatha, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Priya Punia, Shabnam Shakil

India’s updated Test squad for one-off Test:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Priya Punia, Shabnam Shakil

India’s updated squad for three-match T20I series:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (WK), Richa Ghosh (WK), Jemimah Rodrigues, Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Shabnam Shakil

Standby: Saika Ishaque