One of Pakistan's high-profile players, Bismah Maroof, announces his surprise retirement from international cricket
One of the high-profile players of the Pakistan women's cricket team, Bismah Maroof, announced his retirement from all international cricket with immediate effect on Thursday. She was forced into a long break from cricket, first in 2020 due to a fitness issue and then in 2021 after giving birth to a baby girl in August.
When she took her baby to the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, Bismah grabbed headlines. She was the first Pakistani woman cricketer to avail of a 12-month maternity leave with pay policy. A left-handed batter made her ODI debut against India in 2006 and went on to represent Pakistan in 276 international matches, the most by any Pakistan woman cricketer.
In a statement, Bismah said, “I have decided to retire from the game I love the most. It has been an incredible journey, filled with challenges, victories, and unforgettable memories.”
“I want to express my gratitude to my family, who have supported me throughout my cricketing journey from the very beginning until now. I also want to extend my thanks to the Pakistan Cricket Board for believing in me and providing the platform to showcase my talent. The support from the PCB has been invaluable, particularly in implementing the first-ever parental policy for me, which enabled me to represent my country at the highest level while being a mother.”
Tania Malik, who is the head of the Pakistan women’s cricket wing, said that the board was always indebted to Bismah for her immense contributions to Pakistan women’s cricket.