Pakistan women's fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz retires from international cricket
Kainat Imtiaz retires from international cricket after 13 years and 18 wickets in 40 matches. She has started work as a match referee, following her mother's path into officiating.
Pakistan women's fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has retired from international cricket after a 13-year career. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the retirement on Sunday. Imtiaz played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is, taking 18 wickets across both formats.
The 33-year-old made her T20I debut against South Africa in October 2010 and her ODI debut against Ireland a year later. She represented Pakistan at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, winning gold medals both times, and played at the 2017 Women's World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Imtiaz has already begun a new career as a match referee, following in the footsteps of her mother Saleema Imtiaz, who became the first Pakistani woman on the ICC's International Development Panel of umpires in 2024. She officiated in the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 Tournament in Karachi in August and September.
CricHubb Take
Imtiaz's transition shows that Pakistan's women's game is creating pathways beyond playing careers. Her early move into officiating means the next generation will see female role models in both uniforms and blazers.