Unexpected retirement from international cricket announced by Bismah Maroof

Unexpectedly, one of Pakistan’s best-known female cricket players and former captain, Bismah Maroof, said on Thursday that she would be retiring from all international cricket with immediate effect. The 32-year-old Bismah had to take a lengthy sabbatical from cricket in 2020 owing to a fitness concern and again in August 2021 after giving birth to a daughter. When Bismah brought her infant to the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, it made headlines. She was the first female cricket player from Pakistan to take advantage of the 12-month paid maternity leave program.

As the most-capped Pakistani woman cricketer with 276 matches played, Bismah is a left-handed batsman who made her ODI debut against India in 2006. 2009 saw her make her T20I debut against Ireland. With her right-arm leg-spin, she has amassed 6,262 runs in international cricket, including 33 half-centuries, and claimed 80 wickets in the format.

“I’ve made the decision to stop playing the game I like the most. In a statement, Bismah stated, “It has been an amazing journey, full of challenges, victories, and unforgettable memories.”

“I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support from the beginning of my cricket adventure to the present.

“I also want to express my gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for giving me the opportunity to show off my skills and for believing in me. The PCB’s assistance has been vital, especially in helping me put into effect the first parental policy ever, which has allowed me to represent my nation at the greatest level while also being a mother.” The Board has always been grateful to Bismah for her enormous contributions to Pakistan women’s cricket, according to Tania Mallik, the head of the women’s cricket wing.

In addition to captaining her nation in 96 international matches, Bismah was a member of the women’s squad that took home the gold medal twice at the Asian Games, in the 2010 and 2014 editions.

She participated in four ICC Women’s 50-over World Cups (2009, 2013, 2017, and 2022). In the 2022 tournament, which was hosted in New Zealand, she captained the squad.

Between 2009 and 2023, Bismah participated in eight ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and captained the team in the 2020 and 2023 competitions.