18-year-old Pakistan cricketer Ayesha Naseem announces retirement to 'live life according to Islam'

Ayesha Naseem, a promising young player for Pakistan cricket, would now be missed in the international setup as she abruptly declared her retirement from the game in order to live a more pious life in accordance with Islam. On Thursday, the 18-year-old cricketer informed the Pakistan Cricket Board of the decision she had made.

With the immense growth of women's cricket in Pakistan, Ayesha had been at the peak of her prowess and hence, her decision to quit the sport has been no less than a shock. Having made her debut for Pakistan in 2020, Ayesha has represented her nation in 30 T20Is and four ODIs, scoring 369 and 33 runs respectively, in the two formats. 

"I'm leaving cricket and want to live my life according to Islam," Naseem told PCB. 

Ayesha showed immense potential during the recent edition of the Women's T20 World Cup, where she smashed an unbeaten 25-ball 43 in the game against India. The match turned out to be a thriller as India clinched a victory in the final few moments and Ayesha's knock eventually went in vain. 

With her sudden retirement announcement, Pakistan have lost the services of one of the rare gems. Before the Women's T20 World Cup, Pakistan faced Australia and Ireland in a tri-series, where Ayesha proved her worth with the bat. Scoring a 20-ball 24, she caught former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram's attention as the legendary pacer praised Ayesha, calling her a 'serious talent'. 

Notably, since Pakistan's exit from the 20-over marquee event, they have not played any international game. They are set to return to action on September 1, as they face South Africa for a white ball series. Ayesha was one of the players to watch out for, because given her recent performances, she was a confirmed name in the squad. The selectors might now face difficulty in looking out for a like-for-like replacement of Ayesha Naseem.