Aimen Anwar retires from international cricket after 45-match Pakistan career
Synopsis
Aimen Anwar's retirement closes a 45-match Pakistan career spanning three T20 World Cups and the 2022 ODI World Cup — but she isn't leaving cricket. Her immediate pivot to match refereeing, debuting at the National Women's U19 Tournament days after retiring, makes her one of the rare players to transition into officiating almost seamlessly.
Key Takeaways
Aimen Anwar has retired from international cricket with immediate effect, confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday .
She played 8 ODIs and 37 T20Is for Pakistan between July 2016 and February 2023 , taking 33 wickets across formats.
Aimen featured at the ICC Women's T20 World Cups in 2018 , 2020 , and 2022-23 , and the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
She made her T20I debut against England in Southampton in July 2016 , becoming Pakistan women's 37th T20I cap .
Aimen debuted as a match referee at the National Women's U19 Tournament on Monday , after completing her induction course in January 2025 .
Pakistan fast bowler Aimen Anwar has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, closing a career that spanned nearly seven years, 45 matches, and appearances at three ICC Women's T20 World Cups. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the development on Wednesday, marking the end of a chapter for one of Pakistan women's cricket's experienced pace options.
Career at a Glance
Aimen represented Pakistan in eight ODIs and 37 T20Is between July 2016 and February 2023. The right-arm medium-fast bowler made her T20I debut against England in Southampton in July 2016, becoming Pakistan women's 37th player to earn a T20I cap. Her ODI debut came against Bangladesh in Colombo in February 2017. Across formats, she finished with 33 international wickets — 29 in T20Is and 4 in ODIs.
World Cup Appearances
Aimen featured in Pakistan's squads at the ICC Women's T20 World Cups in 2018, 2020, and 2022-23. She also played a role in Pakistan's campaign at the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Notably, her recall for the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia followed strong performances in domestic cricket, earning her a place in Pakistan's 15-member squad for the tournament.
Life After International Cricket
Aimen has not stepped away from the sport entirely. She has remained involved through broadcasting and has now transitioned into match officiating. She made her debut as a match referee at the ongoing National Women's U19 Tournament on Monday, having successfully completed her match-referee induction course in January 2025. The move signals a new chapter in her cricketing journey, this time from the other side of the boundary rope.
Her Place in Pakistan Women's Cricket
Aimen's career coincided with several important phases in the growth of Pakistan women's cricket. She featured alongside some of the country's leading players and contributed to the team's pace-bowling resources during a period when the side was building its competitive identity on the global stage. This comes amid a broader push by the PCB to develop women's cricket infrastructure, both on and off the field.
Point of View
However, is the speed of her transition into officiating. The PCB's investment in a referee induction programme and Aimen's willingness to take it up suggests a maturing administrative ecosystem. Whether that pipeline produces enough qualified women officials to meet the expanding women's cricket calendar remains the harder question.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Aimen Anwar retire from international cricket?
The PCB confirmed Aimen Anwar's retirement with immediate effect on Wednesday, but no specific reason was publicly stated. Her last international appearance was in February 2023, and she had already been involved in broadcasting before transitioning to match officiating.
How many wickets did Aimen Anwar take in international cricket?
Aimen Anwar took 33 international wickets across formats — 29 in T20Is and 4 in ODIs — over a career spanning 45 matches for Pakistan from July 2016 to February 2023.
Which ICC tournaments did Aimen Anwar play in?
She featured in Pakistan's squads at the ICC Women's T20 World Cups in 2018, 2020, and 2022-23, as well as the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup held in New Zealand.
What is Aimen Anwar doing after retirement?
Aimen Anwar has transitioned into match officiating. She made her debut as a match referee at the National Women's U19 Tournament on Monday, having completed her match-referee induction course in January 2025. She has also been involved in cricket broadcasting.
When did Aimen Anwar make her international debut?
Aimen Anwar made her T20I debut against England in Southampton in July 2016, becoming Pakistan women's 37th player to earn a T20I cap. Her ODI debut followed in February 2017 against Bangladesh in Colombo.
