Indian cricket fans have a new name to watch out for: Shabnam Shakil. The 17-year-old pacer has received her first call-up to the national team for the ongoing multi-format series against South Africa.
Shakil’s selection comes on the back of a string of impressive performances. She was part of the victorious Indian team at the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. She also impressed in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with the Gujarat Giants, picking up four wickets in her four matches.
The BCCI announced Shakil’s inclusion on Thursday, adding her to the squad for the remaining ODI, the one-off Test match, and the three-match T20I series against South Africa. While India already holds an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODIs, Shakil’s pace bowling could be a valuable asset for the upcoming Test and T20I matches.
This is a well-deserved selection for the young talent. Shakil’s ability to swing the new ball and bowl at a good pace makes her a promising prospect for Indian women’s cricket. Her performance in the WPL caught the eye of the selectors, and her inclusion in the squad shows that the BCCI is investing in young talent.
Whether Shakil gets a chance to play in the remaining matches against South Africa remains to be seen. But her inclusion in the squad itself is a significant development. It will be exciting to see how she performs at the international level and develops her skills in the coming years.
