Kainat Imtiaz retires from international cricket to become match referee

Pakistan right-arm pace bowler Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket after 13 years in the game, choosing to begin a new chapter as a match referee. She has already stepped into that role, officiating at the PCB National Women's Under-19 T20 tournament held in Karachi across August and September.

Imtiaz's international journey began in October 2010 when she featured in a T20I against South Africa in Potchefstroom, becoming one of the younger pace options in the Pakistan women's setup at the time. Her first appearance in the 50-over format followed the next year, when she lined up against Ireland in Fatullah. Across a career that stretched over a decade, she represented Pakistan in 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is, finishing with 10 ODI wickets at an average of 51.40 and eight scalps in T20 internationals, conceding runs at 5.82 per over.

Her last outing in ODI cricket came when Pakistan faced Australia at the Gabba in January 2023. In the shortest format, her final appearance was during the 2022 Asia Cup in Sylhet, where Pakistan took on Thailand.

What did Kainat Imtiaz achieve across her international career?

Imtiaz collected some of the most coveted honours available in women's cricket during her playing days. She was part of Pakistan squads that claimed gold at the Asian Games in 2010, held in China, and again in 2014 in South Korea. She also represented the country at the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup and featured at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, giving her a record that spans multiple formats and major multi-sport events.

After her final international appearance, Imtiaz moved into broadcasting, presenting and commentating at cricket tournaments both within Pakistan and abroad. That phase of her post-playing career has now given way to a focus on match officiating, a transition she has already begun at the domestic level.

Why does Imtiaz's move into officiating matter for Pakistan women's cricket?

Imtiaz is the second former Pakistan woman cricketer to take up a match referee position in a short space of time. Aiman Anwar, who stepped away from international cricket in August, made the same move just ahead of her, underlining a growing trend of experienced players choosing administrative and officiating pathways after retiring.

The decision carries particular significance because of her family background. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani woman umpire to earn a place on the ICC's international development panel. Saleema has stood in nine women's ODIs and 69 women's T20Is, building a record that few officials from Pakistan can match. Kainat's entry into officiating means the family now contributes to both the playing and administrative sides of the women's game in Pakistan, a combination that is genuinely rare at this level.