Kainat Imtiaz Retires From Cricket: What's Next for the Pace Bowler?

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-05

Pakistan pace bowler Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket to pursue a career as a match referee. She recently officiated matches in the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 tournament, which took place in Karachi in August and September. ### From Fast Bowler to Match Official Imtiaz, a right-arm fast bowler, ends a playing career that lasted 13 years. Her work at the Karachi tournament gave her first experience as an official, and she has now decided to build her future in the sport through that role. Since her last international appearance, Imtiaz has worked as a broadcaster. She has presented and commentated on cricket tournaments in Pakistan and abroad, and she now plans to establish herself as a match official. Her decision follows the path of her mother, who also works in cricket officiating. ### Kainat Imtiaz's Career Record for Pakistan Imtiaz played 40 international matches for Pakistan, made up of 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. She made her debut in October 2010 in a T20I against South Africa in Potchefstroom. She played her first ODI a year later against Ireland in Fatullah. In ODIs, she took 10 wickets at an average of 51.40. In T20Is, she took eight wickets and conceded 5.82 runs per over. Imtiaz was part of the Pakistan teams that won gold medals at the Asian Games in 2010 in China and in 2014 in South Korea. She also played at the 2017 World Cup and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her last ODI came against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023, while her final T20I was against Thailand in Sylhet during the 2022 Asia Cup. ### Saleema Imtiaz and Aiman Anwar in Pakistan's Match Official Ranks Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, was the first Pakistani woman umpire to join the ICC's international development panel. She has officiated in nine women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is, and her daughter now aims to establish a similar career on the officiating side of the game. Imtiaz is the second former Pakistan women's cricketer to move into match refereeing in recent months. Aiman Anwar ended her international career in August with the same goal. The two retirements show a growing number of former Pakistan women's players moving into officiating roles after their playing days end. Imtiaz now begins that work with domestic assignments, which started with the Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. For more sports news and updates, follow JeetWin Blog! The post Kainat Imtiaz Retires From International Cricket to Become Match Referee appeared first on JeetWin Blog.