[6] She usually opens the bowling alongside Marizanne Kapp which is arguably one of the best fast-bowling combinations in women's international cricket.

[8] As of 2022, she holds the record for having taken the most number of wickets at a single venue in the history of WODIs with 24 scalps which she achieved at the Senwes Park, Potchefstroom.

[16] After leaving school, Ismail worked for seven years as a speed-point technician, maintaining the credit and debit card machines used to make electronic funds transfers at point of sale.

[15] Ismail made her senior debut for Western Province in October 2005 (aged 17), during the 2005–06 season of South Africa's Women's Provincial League.

[20] In September 2019, she was named in the Devnarain XI squad for the inaugural edition of the Women's T20 Super League in South Africa.

[23][24] In December 2015, several weeks into the inaugural season of Australia's Women's Big Bash League, Ismail signed with the Melbourne Renegades as an overseas marquee player, temporarily replacing Rachel Priest.

[27][28] Despite finishing with a modest total of ten wickets (ranking 25th in the league), she was the third-most economical bowler throughout the tournament by conceding 5.88 runs per over.

[29][30] In an article for The Sydney Morning Herald, written by Thunder captain Rachael Haynes, the fielding ability of Ismail was praised as one of the top five highlights of the season.

[32][33] She was a crucial member of the Sydney Thunder side which won the WBBL|06 and also delivered a match winning spell of 2/12 including the big scalp of Meg Lanning in the WBBL final to restrict Melbourne Stars to 86/9 in their 20 overs.

[44] She was signed up by Oval Invincibles as a replacement player for Rachael Haynes in the inaugural edition of the Women's Hundred competition for the 2021 season.

[51] She enjoyed more good form at the 2013 World Cup in India, finishing with eleven wickets from seven matches—the most for South Africa and the equal fifth-most overall.

[55] During a 2017 match against England, she set an unenviable new record for most runs conceded in a Women's Cricket World Cup innings, finishing with figures of 1/89.

[56] In March 2018, Ismail was one of fourteen players to be awarded a national contract by Cricket South Africa ahead of the 2018–19 season.

[61] In January 2020, Ismail was named in South Africa's squad for the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.

[65] On 23 July 2020, Ismail was named in South Africa's 24-woman squad to begin training in Pretoria, ahead of their tour to England.

[73][74] She also ended the series as the joint wicket taker alongside fellow South African Ayabonga Khaka with ten scalps.

[75] In July 2022, she was named in South Africa's team for the cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

[76] Ismail was part of the South Africa squad for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup,[77] taking two wickets as they lost in the final to Australia.

[81][53] In July 2020, Ismail was named women's T20 player of the year at Cricket South Africa's annual awards ceremony.

[84][85] Ismail considers South African seamer Andre Nel as her inspiration and role model due to his on-field aggression.

[14] She was also inspired by the physical intensity and aggression of South African seamer Dale Steyn who would go about his business on the opposition batters.