Kainat Imtiaz retires from international cricket after 13-year Pakistan career
Synopsis
Kainat Imtiaz, one of Pakistan women's cricket's most durable pace bowlers, has hung up her international whites after 13 years. A two-time Asian Games gold medallist, she now steps into match officiating — following in the footsteps of her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, who broke barriers at the ICC in 2024.
Key Takeaways
Kainat Imtiaz announced her retirement from international cricket on 4 October 2026 , confirmed by the PCB .
She played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 10 and 8 wickets in those formats respectively.
She was part of Pakistan's gold medal-winning squads at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014 .
She also represented Pakistan at the 2017 ICC Women's ODI World Cup and the Commonwealth Games 2022 .
At 34 , she has begun a career as a match referee in the PCB National Women's U19 T20 Tournament.
Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz , became the first Pakistani woman nominated to the ICC's International Development Panel in 2024 .
Pakistan fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket, ending a 13-year career with the Women in Green, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Sunday, 4 October 2026. The right-arm speedster, who made her international debut in 2010, played her final match for Pakistan in 2023, having represented her country across 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is.
A Career Defined by Landmark Moments
Kainat's international journey began with a T20I appearance in 2010 during the ICC Women's Cricket Twenty20 Challenge against South Africa, followed by her ODI debut against Ireland in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in 2011. She was a key member of the Pakistan women's squad that claimed gold medals in the cricket event at the Asian Games in both 2010 and 2014 — two of the most celebrated achievements in Pakistan women's cricket history.
She also featured prominently in the 2017 ICC Women's ODI World Cup and the Commonwealth Games 2022, cementing her reputation as a dependable pace option across formats over more than a decade.
Career Statistics at a Glance
In 19 ODIs, Kainat claimed 10 wickets in 16 innings with a best haul of 3 for 49. Across 21 T20Is, she picked up eight wickets in 12 innings, with a best return of 2 for 18. She also contributed with the bat, accumulating 134 runs in 13 ODI innings at an average of 11.16, with a top score of 24, and 137 runs in 17 T20I innings at 12.45, with a best of 29.
Her last T20I appearance came against Thailand in Sylhet during the Women's Asia Cup in October 2022, while her final ODI was played against Australia during Pakistan's tour in January 2023.
Stepping Into a New Role
Now 34, Kainat has already begun transitioning into cricket administration. She served as a match referee in the PCB National Women's U19 T20 Tournament held across August and September, signalling her intent to remain engaged with the game off the field.
The cricketing talent runs in the family: her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, made history in 2024 when she became the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC's International Development Panel.
A Pioneer From the Grassroots Up
Kainat's cricketing roots stretch back to February 2007, when she represented Karachi Schools U17 in the PCB National Schools U17 Women's Championship. She made her List A debut in March 2008 and her domestic T20 debut in July 2008, building the skills that would earn her international colours just two years later.
Her retirement marks the close of a chapter for a generation of Pakistan women's cricketers who helped lay the foundations of the programme during some of its most formative years. Whether her future lies fully in match officiating or broader administration, Kainat's transition from speedster to referee underlines the depth of her commitment to the sport.
Point of View
Gold medals at the Asian Games notwithstanding. The fact that she is transitioning into match officiating — rather than coaching or commentary — is notable, and reflects a broader need to build referee pipelines in women's cricket globally. Her mother's nomination to the ICC's International Development Panel adds a rare inter-generational dimension to this story. Pakistan women's cricket still struggles for consistent bilateral series and broadcast reach; it will need players of Kainat's era to return as administrators and officials if the next generation is to receive more than these pioneers did.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kainat Imtiaz retire from international cricket?
Kainat Imtiaz announced her retirement after a 13-year international career, with her last match for Pakistan having been played in January 2023. No specific reason beyond the natural end of her playing career has been cited; she has already begun a new chapter as a match referee.
How many international matches did Kainat Imtiaz play for Pakistan?
Kainat Imtiaz played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Pakistan. She took 10 wickets in ODIs with a best of 3 for 49, and 8 wickets in T20Is with a best of 2 for 18.
What were the biggest achievements of Kainat Imtiaz's career?
Kainat was a key member of the Pakistan women's team that won gold medals in cricket at the Asian Games in both 2010 and 2014. She also appeared in the 2017 ICC Women's ODI World Cup and the Commonwealth Games 2022.
What is Kainat Imtiaz doing after retirement?
Kainat Imtiaz has transitioned into match officiating and served as a match referee in the PCB National Women's U19 T20 Tournament held in August and September 2026. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, was nominated to the ICC's International Development Panel in 2024.
When did Kainat Imtiaz make her international debut?
Kainat Imtiaz made her T20I debut in 2010 during the ICC Women's Cricket Twenty20 Challenge against South Africa, and her ODI debut in 2011 against Ireland in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier.
