Kainat Imtiaz's Surprise Career Move After 13 Years

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-05

Kainat Imtiaz, the Pakistani pace bowler, has decided to hang up her international boots. But she's not leaving the game she loves. Instead, she's trading her bowling shoes for a match referee's coat. After 13 years of playing, Imtiaz is ready for a new chapter. ### From Fast Bowler to Match Official Imtiaz, a right-arm fast bowler, recently got her first taste of officiating at the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. That experience? It lit a fire. She's now set on building her future in cricket as a match official. "It's a different way to stay connected to the sport," she might say. And she's not alone. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, is a trailblazer in cricket officiating, and Imtiaz is following in her footsteps. ### A Career Worth Celebrating Imtiaz's playing career was nothing short of impressive. She represented Pakistan in 40 international matches – 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. Her debut came in October 2010, a T20I against South Africa in Potchefstroom. A year later, she played her first ODI against Ireland in Fatullah. Her stats? In ODIs, she took 10 wickets at an average of 51.40. In T20Is, she claimed eight wickets with an economy rate of 5.82 runs per over. Not too shabby. But it's not just about numbers. 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, and her final T20I was against Thailand in Sylhet during the 2022 Asia Cup. ### The Family Business of Officiating 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. Now, Kainat aims to carve out a similar legacy. She's not the only one making this move. Aiman Anwar, another former Pakistan women's cricketer, also retired in August to pursue match refereeing. It seems like a trend is brewing: more and more former players are stepping into officiating roles. ### What's Next for Imtiaz? Imtiaz has already started working on 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 her focus now is on establishing herself as a match official. > "I want to give back to the game that gave me so much," she might say. And with her determination and family legacy, she's well on her way. So, what do you think? Is this the start of a new era for women in cricket officiating? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: Kainat Imtiaz is not done with cricket yet. For more sports news and updates, follow JeetWin Blog!