Shabnim Ismail, a cricketer hailing from South Africa and the lone Muslim woman representing her country in international cricket, recently etched her name in history books by delivering the fastest ball ever bowled by a female cricketer. Making headlines during a match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League held in Bengaluru and Delhi, India, Shabnim clocked an astonishing speed of 130 kilometers per hour (kmph) with her bowling.
Playing for Mumbai Indians, Shabnim delivered a lightning-fast second ball during the third over at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi, reaching an impressive speed of 132.1 kmph. Her delivery hit the pads of Australian skipper Meg Lanning, marking a significant moment in women’s cricket.
This remarkable achievement adds to Shabnim’s legacy, as she had previously bowled at speeds of 128 kmph against West Indies in 2016 and 127 kmph twice during the ICC Women’s World Cup. At 35 years old, Shabnim’s feat demonstrates her continued prowess on the cricket field, following her participation in the T20 World Cup last year.
