In a significant development just days before the official start of the Women's Asia Cup 2026, Pakistan women's cricket team fast bowler Aiman Anwar has announced her immediate retirement from international cricket. Her decision to step down right ahead of the tournament scheduled to begin on August 28 has drawn noticeable attention across the cricketing fraternity. However, the 34-year-old cricketer is not stepping away from the sport entirely, as she is set to remain actively involved in a new professional role within the game.
Seven-Year Career Statistics and International Record
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed Aiman Anwar's decision to bring the curtain down on her playing stint for the national team. Her international career spanned from July 2016 through February 2023. Over this nearly seven-year tenure, Anwar represented Pakistan in a total of 45 international matches across formats, comprising 8 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 37 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). In terms of bowling statistics, she claimed 4 wickets in ODIs and 29 wickets in the T20I format, taking her overall international tally to 33 wickets.
Early Debut and Journey from Southampton to Colombo
Anwar made her international debut for Pakistan in July 2016 in a T20 match against England played at Southampton. A few months later, in February 2017, she earned her maiden ODI cap against Bangladesh at Colombo. Through consistent efforts, she established herself as an integral part of Pakistan's pace attack, serving the national side dutifully across formatted international series over seven seasons.
Participation Across Four Major ICC Tournaments
During her international playing career, Anwar featured in several flagship global tournaments for Pakistan. She was part of the national squad in four major ICC events. These included three editions of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2018, 2020, and 2022-23. Additionally, she was included in the national team for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup held in New Zealand in 2022.
Transition into Broadcasting and Match Refereeing
Despite retiring as a player, the 34-year-old retains a strong connection to cricket. In recent months, she has been working in sports broadcasting. Furthermore, in January of this year, she successfully completed a cricket referee induction course. On August 24, she officially began her new officiating career by acting as a match referee in the National Women's Under-19 Tournament taking place in Karachi. While Anwar embarks on this new administrative trajectory, the Pakistan women's squad is gearing up for the ACC Women's Asia Cup, where they are scheduled to face India in a high-stakes match on September 5.
