Kainat Imtiaz's Surprise Career Shift After 13 Years

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-05

Pakistan's fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has decided to hang up her international boots. But she's not leaving the game behind. Instead, she's stepping into a new role as a match referee. That's right, Imtiaz is trading her bowling spikes for an official's whistle. And honestly, it's a move that makes a lot of sense. ### From Bowling to Officiating: A Natural Transition Imtiaz, a right-arm pace bowler, wrapped up a playing career that spanned 13 years. Her first taste of officiating came at the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. That experience clearly sparked something. She's now committed to building her future in cricket from the other side of the boundary rope. But here's the thing: Imtiaz isn't new to the spotlight. Since her last international appearance, she's worked as a broadcaster, presenting and commentating on tournaments in Pakistan and abroad. That behind-the-microphone experience gives her a unique perspective on the game. She understands the pressure, the tactics, and the moments that matter. Now she wants to apply that knowledge as a match official. And if you think this is a random pivot, think again. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, is a trailblazer in cricket officiating. She was the first Pakistani woman to join the ICC's international development panel. So you could say officiating runs in the family. ### A Career Worth Celebrating Imtiaz leaves behind a solid international record. She played 40 matches for Pakistan: 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. - **T20I debut:** October 2010 vs. South Africa in Potchefstroom - **ODI debut:** A year later vs. Ireland in Fatullah - **ODI wickets:** 10 at an average of 51.40 - **T20I wickets:** 8 with an economy of 5.82 She was also part of Pakistan's gold-medal-winning teams at the Asian Games in 2010 (China) and 2014 (South Korea). Plus, she 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. Not too shabby, right? ### Following in Her Mother's Footsteps Saleema Imtiaz has officiated in nine women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is. That's a lot of matches. And now her daughter is aiming for a similar path. It's a cool full-circle moment for the family. Imtiaz is actually the second former Pakistan women's cricketer to move into match refereeing recently. Aiman Anwar ended her international career in August with the same goal. So there's a growing trend here: more and more former players are transitioning into officiating roles after their playing days end. Imtiaz is starting with domestic assignments, beginning with the Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi. From there, who knows? She could be officiating at the highest level before we know it. ### What This Means for Women's Cricket It's worth pausing to appreciate what's happening. For years, women's cricket has been fighting for visibility and respect. Seeing former players like Imtiaz and Anwar step into officiating roles is a sign of maturity in the sport. It shows that there are career pathways beyond playing. And it gives young girls another reason to dream big. As Imtiaz put it, "I want to give back to the game that gave me so much." That's a sentiment we can all get behind. So here's to Kainat Imtiaz: a bowler, a broadcaster, and now a referee. We'll be watching closely.