Kainat Imtiaz Retires From Cricket to Follow Her Mother's Footsteps

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-05

### From Fast Bowler to Match Referee Pakistan's right-arm pace bowler Kainat Imtiaz has decided to hang up her international boots and step into a new role: match referee. After 13 years of playing at the highest level, she's trading her bowling shoes for a rulebook and a whistle (well, not literally a whistle, but you get the idea). Imtiaz recently got her first taste of officiating at the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi, which ran through August and September. That experience convinced her that her future in cricket lies on the other side of the boundary rope. ### A Career Worth Celebrating Let's take a quick look back at what she accomplished on the field. Imtiaz played 40 international matches for Pakistan – 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. She made her T20I debut in October 2010 against South Africa in Potchefstroom, and her first ODI came a year later against Ireland in Fatullah. Her bowling stats might not jump off the page – 10 wickets in ODIs at an average of 51.40, and 8 wickets in T20Is with an economy of 5.82 – but her contributions went beyond numbers. She was part of the Pakistan teams that won gold at the Asian Games in 2010 (China) and 2014 (South Korea). She also represented Pakistan at the 2017 World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her final ODI was against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023, and her last T20I came against Thailand in Sylhet during the 2022 Asia Cup. ### Following in Her Mother's Footsteps Here's where it gets really cool: Imtiaz's mother, Saleema Imtiaz, was the first Pakistani woman to join the ICC's international development panel as an umpire. She has officiated in 9 women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is. Now, Kainat aims to build a similar legacy on the officiating side. > "I've always admired my mother's journey. She showed me that there's a meaningful path in cricket beyond playing," Imtiaz shared in a recent interview. She's not the only one making this transition. Aiman Anwar, another former Pakistan women's cricketer, also retired in August with the same goal. It seems like a quiet trend is building – more and more former players are choosing to stay in the game as officials. ### What's Next for Imtiaz? Imtiaz has already started working domestic assignments, beginning with the Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. She's also worked as a broadcaster, presenting and commentating on cricket tournaments in Pakistan and abroad. But now, her focus is on establishing herself as a match official. - She'll likely continue with domestic matches before aiming for international panels. - Her experience as a player gives her a unique perspective on the game. - The pathway is there, thanks to pioneers like her mother. It's a reminder that retirement doesn't mean leaving the sport you love. Sometimes, it just means finding a new way to contribute. For more sports news and updates, keep an eye on our blog.