Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket after representing Pakistan women’s cricket team for 13 years. The right-arm fast bowler played 19 One-Day Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals for Pakistan before moving into a new role as a match referee. PCB
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the retirement on October 4, 2026. Imtiaz has already begun her career in match officiating, recently serving as a match referee during the PCB National Women’s U19 T20 Tournament held in August and September. PCB
Kainat Imtiaz’s International Cricket Career
Kainat Imtiaz made her T20I debut for Pakistan against South Africa in Potchefstroom in October 2010, becoming Pakistan women’s T20I cap number 22. She later made her ODI debut against Ireland in Fatullah, Bangladesh. PCB
Her international career included participation in the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she played four matches. She was also part of Pakistan squads that won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games in China and South Korea. In 2022, she represented Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games. PCB
Her final ODI appearance came against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023, while her last T20I was against Thailand in Sylhet in October 2022. The ICC profile lists her international career as beginning in 2010 and ending in 2023. icc
A New Chapter as Match Referee
Following her retirement from playing international cricket, Imtiaz has chosen to remain connected with the sport through officiating. Her first reported assignment as a match referee came during the PCB National Women’s U19 T20 Tournament earlier this year. PCB
Her move into match officiating also has a strong family connection. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, made history by becoming Pakistan’s first woman umpire on the ICC International Development Panel in 2024. The PCB has previously highlighted the mother-daughter pair’s connection with cricket, with Saleema serving as a match official while Kainat represented Pakistan. PCB
From Player to Match Official
Kainat began playing cricket at a young age, representing the Karachi Schools U17 team in the PCB National Schools U17 Women’s Championship in February 2007. She made her domestic List A debut in March 2008 and her T20 debut in July of the same year. PCB
Her retirement now marks the end of her international playing career, but her transition into match refereeing gives her an opportunity to remain involved in cricket from a different position. Her experience as an international player could also provide valuable insight as she develops in her new career.
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