Pakistan women's all-rounder Kainat Imtiaz has brought the curtain down on her 13-year international playing career. Her departure from competitive playing does not mark an exit from the sport, as she has decided to step into match refereeing. In embarking on this next professional phase, she follows directly in the footsteps of her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, who has carved out a pioneering career in cricket officiating.
Domestic Officiating Stint Prompted Career Transition
The groundwork for this shift began recently when Kainat took on officiating duties on the domestic circuit. During the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 tournament held in Karachi through August and September, she worked as a match official. That initial experience solidified her ambition to continue serving the sport from beyond the boundary ropes, leading directly to her retirement decision from international cricket.
A 40-Match Career for Pakistan Across Two Formats
Kainat represented Pakistan in 40 international fixtures, comprising 19 ODIs and 21 T20 Internationals. Her international debut came in October 2010 during a T20 match against South Africa in Potchefstroom. The following year, she earned her maiden ODI cap against Ireland in Fatullah. In the 50-over format, she claimed 10 wickets with a bowling average of 51.40, while in T20 Internationals, she picked up 8 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 5.82.
Asian Games Gold Medals and Major Global Tournaments
Her international career featured significant tournament successes, including being part of the Pakistan squads that clinched gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games held in China and South Korea respectively. She was also selected for the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Kainat played her final ODI for Pakistan in January 2023 against Australia at The Gabba, while her last T20 appearance was against Thailand in Sylhet during the 2022 Asia Cup.
From the Commentary Box to Match Officiating
During pauses in her playing commitments, Kainat expanded her presence across the cricketing landscape through broadcasting. She featured as a television presenter and commentator across several tournaments both within Pakistan and internationally. Her decision to move into match refereeing carries family significance, as her mother Saleema Imtiaz made history by becoming the first Pakistani female umpire inducted into the ICC International Development Panel, having officiated in 9 women's ODIs and 69 women's T20 Internationals. Kainat is the second former Pakistan women's international in recent months to embrace officiating, following Aiman Anwar, who announced her retirement in August to pursue match refereeing.
