Pakistan women's fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket after a 13-year career, and will begin a new chapter as a match referee, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Sunday.
Imtiaz played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 18 wickets across the two formats. She made her T20I debut against South Africa in Potchefstroom in October 2010, with her ODI debut following a year later against Ireland in Fatullah. Her final ODI appearance came against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023, while her last T20I was against Thailand during the 2022 Asia Cup in Sylhet.
Medals and milestones
The pacer was part of Pakistan's gold-medal-winning women's cricket squads at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, and later represented the country at the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She also worked as a presenter and commentator at domestic and international events during her playing years.
Following her mother's path
Rather than stepping away from the game, Imtiaz has already begun officiating. She stood in matches during the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 Tournament in Karachi in August and September, starting her transition into match officiating before formally announcing her retirement.
The move carries a family significance. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, became the first Pakistani woman named to the ICC's International Development Panel of umpires in 2024, and has since officiated in nine women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is. Kainat is the second former Pakistan women's cricketer in recent months to move into match refereeing, after Aiman Anwar made a similar transition following her retirement in August.
Sources:
- Pakistan Star Retires From International Cricket After Asian Games, Begins New Journey (ABP Live): https://news.abplive.com/sports/cri...ricket-follows-mother-into-new-career-1869711
- Kainat Imtiaz retires from international cricket (A-Sports): https://a-sports.tv/kainat-imtiaz-retires-from-international-cricket
Imtiaz played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 18 wickets across the two formats. She made her T20I debut against South Africa in Potchefstroom in October 2010, with her ODI debut following a year later against Ireland in Fatullah. Her final ODI appearance came against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023, while her last T20I was against Thailand during the 2022 Asia Cup in Sylhet.
Medals and milestones
The pacer was part of Pakistan's gold-medal-winning women's cricket squads at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, and later represented the country at the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She also worked as a presenter and commentator at domestic and international events during her playing years.
Following her mother's path
Rather than stepping away from the game, Imtiaz has already begun officiating. She stood in matches during the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 Tournament in Karachi in August and September, starting her transition into match officiating before formally announcing her retirement.
The move carries a family significance. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, became the first Pakistani woman named to the ICC's International Development Panel of umpires in 2024, and has since officiated in nine women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is. Kainat is the second former Pakistan women's cricketer in recent months to move into match refereeing, after Aiman Anwar made a similar transition following her retirement in August.
Sources:
- Pakistan Star Retires From International Cricket After Asian Games, Begins New Journey (ABP Live): https://news.abplive.com/sports/cri...ricket-follows-mother-into-new-career-1869711
- Kainat Imtiaz retires from international cricket (A-Sports): https://a-sports.tv/kainat-imtiaz-retires-from-international-cricket
