Kainat Imtiaz Retires to Follow Her Mother's Footsteps

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-05

Pakistan fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has officially retired from international cricket. She’s trading her bowling spikes for a match referee’s clipboard, and honestly, it’s a move that makes a lot of sense. She recently got a taste of officiating at the PCB National Women’s Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. That experience seems to have sealed the deal. ### From Playing to Officiating Imtiaz ends a 13-year playing career that saw her represent Pakistan in 40 international matches. That includes 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. She made her T20I debut back in October 2010 against South Africa in Potchefstroom. Her first ODI came a year later against Ireland in Fatullah. Her numbers? In ODIs, she took 10 wickets at an average of 51.40. In T20Is, she took 8 wickets with an economy of 5.82. Not exactly headline-grabbing, but she was a reliable right-arm pacer who gave her all. And she didn’t walk away empty-handed. Imtiaz was part of the Pakistan teams that won gold at the Asian Games in 2010 (China) and 2014 (South Korea). She also played in the 2017 World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her last ODI was against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023. Her final T20I came against Thailand in Sylhet during the 2022 Asia Cup. ### A Family Tradition in Officiating Here’s where it gets really cool. Imtiaz isn’t the first in her family to pick up the officiating mantle. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, was the first Pakistani woman umpire to join the ICC’s international development panel. She has stood in 9 women’s ODIs and 69 women’s T20Is. Talk about a legacy. Kainat now aims to build a similar career on the other side of the game. > “I’ve always admired my mother’s work as an umpire. It’s a different way to serve the game, but it’s just as important.” Imtiaz isn’t the only one making this transition. Aiman Anwar, another former Pakistan women’s cricketer, also retired in August with the same goal. It’s a growing trend—more players realizing they can contribute to cricket long after their playing days are over. ### What’s Next for Imtiaz? She’s already started with domestic assignments, beginning with the Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. From there, she’ll likely climb the ranks, just like her mother did. Before diving into officiating, Imtiaz also worked as a broadcaster. She presented and commentated on cricket tournaments in Pakistan and abroad. That experience probably helps her understand the game from yet another angle. So what can we expect? More former players following this path. And honestly, that’s good for cricket. Having people who’ve been in the heat of the moment making decisions? That’s a win. We wish Kainat Imtiaz all the best in her new role. It’s always nice to see someone stay in the sport they love—just in a different capacity. For more sports news and updates, keep an eye on our blog.