Kainat Imtiaz Retires from International Cricket to Begin Career as Match Referee

Pakistan pace bowler Kainat Imtiaz has retired from international cricket and will now focus on becoming a match referee. The right-arm quick recently officiated matches in the PCB National Women’s Under-19 T20 tournament, which was held in Karachi in August and September. Her decision marks a move from playing the game to working as a match official. Imtiaz has chosen this path after a 13-year international career with Pakistan. She will now look to build her career in match officiating and take on a new role within the sport.

Imtiaz represented Pakistan in 40 international matches, including 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. She made her international debut in October 2010 in a T20I against <a href="https://cricket.international/cameron-green-likely-to-miss-first-test-vs-south-africa-pbks-star-in-fray/" title="Cameron Green likely to miss first Test vs South Africa, PBKS star in fray”>South Africa in Potchefstroom. The following year, she played her first ODI against Ireland in Fatullah. In ODIs, she took 10 wickets at an average of 51.40, while she claimed eight wickets in T20Is at an economy rate of 5.82. Her international career therefore covered more than a decade across both formats. Her final appearances for Pakistan came in 2023 and 2022.

The former Pakistan bowler was also part of the teams that won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. Pakistan secured the first of those gold medals in China and the second in South Korea. Imtiaz also represented the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and featured in the 2017 World Cup. She last played for Pakistan in an ODI against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023. Her final appearance in the shorter format came against Thailand in Sylhet during the 2022 Asia Cup. These tournaments and matches formed important parts of her international journey and career with Pakistan.

Since stepping away from regular international cricket, Imtiaz has remained connected with the sport through broadcasting. She has worked as a presenter and commentator at cricket tournaments in Pakistan as well as at international events. However, she has now chosen a different role within the game. Imtiaz recently decided to follow the same path as her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, and work towards becoming a match official. Her recent duties at the National Women’s Under-19 T20 tournament in Karachi have given her experience in this new area. The move keeps her closely involved with cricket.

Saleema Imtiaz has already made history in Pakistan’s cricket officiating setup. She became 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, giving her extensive experience as an official. Kainat’s decision to enter match officiating therefore follows a path already taken by her mother. The former player is now beginning her own journey as a match referee. Her recent tournament work is an early step in that direction.

Kainat Imtiaz is also the second former Pakistan women’s cricketer to move into match refereeing recently. Aiman Anwer ended her international career in August and also chose to become a match referee. Imtiaz’s retirement now adds another former Pakistan player to the growing group of women moving from playing to officiating.

After 40 international appearances across 13 years, she is starting a new professional chapter within the sport. Her playing career included major events such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Cup. Her move follows Aiman Anwer’s recent decision and means both former Pakistan players have chosen match refereeing after international careers. She will now look to continue her connection with cricket from a different position.

Loves all things female cricket

Source: femalecricket.com