Pakistan women’s premiership batsman Bismah Maroof has retired from international cricket. It was a shocking development as she gave up her career with immediate effect. She confirmed the development on Thursday (April 25).
Bismah Maroof was one of the most prolific batsmen to ever play for the women’s team. She played a crucial role in making the Pakistan team a dominant force in world cricket. The former captain of the team made her debut against India in 2006 and was then part of the famous victory between the two teams.
Bismah Maroof started her international cricket career in ODI, where she played against India in 2006, and went on to play 276 matches in the format. She made her debut in T20Is against Ireland in 2009. The batsman scored a total of 6,262 international runs for the team, including 33 fifties. Apart from that, she was adept with the ball as she took 80 wickets with the ball using her leg sin.
In recent years, Bismah Maroof has struggled to get going. In 2020 she suffered an injury. However, after that, she gave birth to a baby girl in August 2021. Since then, she has been active in cricket on and off but gave her best for the team.
Talking about retirement, Bismah Maroof stated that it has been an incredible journey for her with the Pakistan Cricket Team. She thanked the family and everyone who supported her. She said in a statement:
“I have decided to retire from the game I love the most. It has been an incredible journey full of challenges, victories and unforgettable memories. I would like to express my gratitude to my family who have supported me throughout my cricketing journey from the beginning until now.”
Bismah Maroof played a notable role in Pakistan winning the gold medal twice at the Asian Games. The team reached the festival in the 2010 and 2014 editions. She also captained the team in 96 international matches.
The support from the PCB was invaluable – Bismah Maroof
Bismah Maroof also thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board and said the governing body had shown her invaluable support. She also spoke about the PCB and its parenting policies that enabled her to represent the country while being a mother. She noted:
“I would also like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for believing in me and giving me the platform to showcase my talent. The support from the PCB has been invaluable, particularly in implementing the first ever parenting policy for me, which has enabled me to represent my country at the highest level as a mother.”
Bismah Maroof also played eight editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup between 2009 and 2023. She also led the team in the 2020 and 2023 editions. Her absence will leave a big hole in the Pakistan team, especially given her abilities.