 His final appearance in top-level Pakistani domestic cricket came in November 1998, when he represented the Water and Power Development Authority in a Patron's Trophy match against Habib Bank Limited.After moving to the UAE, Ismail made his debut for the national team at the 2004 ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament, against Nepal.At the 2005 ICC Trophy in Ireland, he took seven wickets from seven games (behind only Ahmed Nadeem and Ali Asad for his team), with a best of 3/29 against Bermuda.