In the ongoing multi-format series between India and South Africa, held from June 16 to July 9, India has secured the three-match ODI series with commanding victories. They secured a 143-run win in the first match, followed by a narrow 4-run victory in the second ODI, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. The third ODI is scheduled for June 23. Adding to the squad, the Women’s Selection Committee announced the inclusion of 17-year-old right-arm pacer Shabnam Shakil into India’s squad for all three formats.
Shabnam was part of the India Under 19 team that triumphed in the inaugural ICC Women’s Under 19 World Cup in 2023. She was bought by Gujarat Giants for ₹10 Lakhs in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) but didn’t feature in any games that season. Her WPL debut came in the second season against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 6, where she became the youngest debutant in WPL history at the age of 16 years and 259 days.
Shabnam Shakil played four matches and secured a total of four wickets. Her first wicket came against the Mumbai Indians, where she dismissed Nat Sciver-Brunt and conceded 31 runs in her spell of three overs. In another match against UP Warriorz, Shakil achieved a significant milestone by claiming a three-wicket haul, giving away just 11 runs. Notably, besides dismissing her Under-19 vice-captain Shweta Sehrawat, she also dismissed two international skippers, Alyssa Healy and Chamari Athapaththu, showcasing her immense capability and potential on the cricket field.
In recent domestic tournaments for the 2023-24 season, Shakil demonstrated her promise. She took two wickets in the Senior Women’s Inter Zonal Multi-Day Trophy, 10 wickets in the Women’s Under 19 One Day Trophy, and 8 wickets in the Women’s Under 19 T20 Trophy, along with scoring 123 runs, including an unbeaten 73. In the Senior Women’s Inter Zonal One Day Trophy, she claimed three wickets and scored 112 runs, with an unbeaten 50 being her highest score.
In the 1st ODI, Asha Shobhana made her ODI debut and impressed with a four-wicket haul. In the 2nd ODI, Arundhati Reddy received her debut call after a three-year absence from international cricket since her last match in T20Is. Today, Shabnam Shakil has received her maiden international call-up.
India’s updated ODI squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, 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:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Priya Punia, Shabnam Shakil
India’s updated T20I squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Shabnam Shakil