Pakistan fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has officially called time on her 13-year international cricket career. Despite stepping away from active playing, she will remain closely connected with the sport. Imtiaz has decided to follow the path of her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, and launch a new professional journey as a match referee.
International Career and Bowling Figures
The 34-year-old cricketer represented Pakistan in 19 One-Day Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals during her time on the field. Her international journey commenced in October 2010 when she made her T20 debut against South Africa in Potchefstroom. The following year, she earned her maiden ODI cap against Ireland in Fatullah, Bangladesh. Over the course of her international tenure, the seam bowler concluded her bowling record with 10 wickets in ODIs and 8 wickets in T20Is.
Gold Medals at the Asian Games and Global Outings
Among the standout highlights of her competitive career was her participation in multi-sport continental tournaments. She was part of the Pakistan squads that clinched gold medals at the Asian Games in China in 2010 and again in South Korea in 2014. On the global stage, she represented her nation at the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup, featuring in four fixtures. Additionally, she was included in the Pakistan contingent for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Final Appearances and National Team Sidelining
Imtiaz last donned the national colours across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Her final outing in the 20-over format arrived in October 2022 against Thailand in Sylhet. A few months later, in January 2023, she played her farewell One-Day International against Australia at the Gabba ground in Brisbane. Following those appearances, she was unable to secure another recall to the Pakistan national lineup, ultimately leading to her decision to draw the curtains on her playing days.
Early Stint as Match Referee in PCB Tournaments
Well before confirming her retirement from playing, Imtiaz had already taken her initial steps into officiating. She served as a match referee during the PCB National Women's Under-19 tournament held in Karachi in August and September of this year. That domestic assignment provided her with first-hand experience managing off-field disciplinary and match regulation protocols, setting the foundation for her full-time transition into match management.
Saleema Imtiaz's Landmark Officiating Legacy
The transition sees Kainat taking inspiration directly from her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, who has carved out a storied career as a cricket match official. In 2024, Saleema etched her name in the history books by becoming the first female umpire from Pakistan to be named to the International Cricket Council's International Development Panel. Her umpiring journey originated back in 2008 with the PCB women's panel, and she has since stood in 9 women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is. Notably, she also became the first Pakistani woman to umpire fixtures in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Now, her daughter Kainat aims to build a corresponding administrative legacy from the match referee's chair.
