Kainat Imtiaz announces retirement [Source: x]Pakistan fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz announced her retirement from international cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the same on Sunday, October 4, through a press release.It is worth noting that Imtiaz has not been considered for national selection since the conclusion of Pakistan’s three-match ODI series in Australia back in January 2023. Moreover, she played the last of her 21 T20Is back in October 2022.Kainat Imtiaz confirms retirement at age 34Pakistan Women's fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz announced her retirement from international cricket. The 34-year-old represented the Pakistan Women’s national team in 19 ODIs and 21 T20I matches between the years 2010 and 2023.Also Read- Pakistan Win Their 1st Ever Medal In Asian Games 2026, Beat Bangladesh For Podium FinishShe was part of the Pakistan team that won the gold medal in the 2010 Asian Games in China and during the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea. The cricketer also played four matches for her national side during the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in England.Concluding her 40-match international career, the right-arm fast bowler picked up 18 wickets in the process at a combined bowling average of 37.61. While Kainat Imtiaz was a tad bit expensive in ODI cricket for Pakistan, as evidenced by her underwhelming bowling average of 51.40, she averaged an impressive 20.37 in women’s T20I matches. In 12 innings of the format, the Pakistan speedster collected eight wickets at an economy rate of just 5.82.What’s next for Kainat Imtiaz?With Kainat Imtiaz announcing her retirement, the 34-year-old might be looking to start a new career as referee in international cricket. As confirmed by the PCB on their official website, the speedster has already started her career as a match referee, and recently officiated under the same capacity during the local National Women’s U19 T20 Tournament held in August and September. Her transition into match officiating could mark the beginning of a new chapter in cricket, allowing her to continue contributing to the sport beyond her playing career.Notably, Kainat’s mother Saleema Imtiaz also serves as an umpire on the ICC International Development Panel. She joined the panel back in 2024 and has so far officiated in nine women’s ODIs and 69 women’s T20I matches.Also Read- "Did Not Get Gold On Platter": Sanju Samson Acknowledges Pakistan’s Asian Games Fightback
