South Africa's experienced fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has announced retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.
Ismail, who represented South Africa in 241 international matches across all three formats, last appeared in women's World Cup in February this year. Her team played final of the event.
In the same mega event, she broke the record for the fastest ball in women's cricket, clocking at 128 kph (80 mph) against England in the semi-final.
"After 16 years proudly representing my country, I have come to the difficult decision to retire from international cricket and move on to the next chapter of my life," Ismail said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I really believe that reducing the amount of cricket I play will enable me to do this, and playing in global leagues is the only way I see to be able to fit in both family and cricket," she added.
Ismail’s 191 wickets in ODIs is second only to India’s Jhulan Goswami (255) on the all-time list.
Her retirement follows that of a trio of South African stalwarts from the last 15 years in former captains Dane van Niekerk and Mignon du Preez, and batter Lizelle Lee.
- Input from Reuters