Bismah Maroof, the former Pakistan Women captain, has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.
Maroof, 32, called time on a 17-year-career with Pakistan, finishing as their leading run-getter in women’s ODIs and T20Is. She will still be available to play league cricket.
In a social media post captioned Pakistan Zindabad (long live Pakistan), she penned her retirement post, thanking the Pakistan Cricket Board, her teammates and support staff, as well as her family, for having collected “a treasure trove of memories”. The post also has a picture of Maroof walking alongside her child Fatima, who was famously present at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand.
In a separate release by the PCB, she emphasised on the board’s parental policy that allows female cricketers up to 12 months of paid leave, and had had helped her continue to play for Pakistan after the birth of her child.
“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,” the statement read. “I want to express my gratitude to my family, who has 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.
“I am deeply grateful to the fans whose unwavering support has been a constant throughout my career, wherever and whenever I represented my country. Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow players, who have become like family to me. The camaraderie we shared both on and off the field is something I will cherish forever.”
Pakistan Zindabad! 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/6otSXiXnnI
— Bismah Maroof (@maroof_bismah) April 25, 2024
Maroof, who captained Pakistan in 62 T20Is and 34 ODIs, retired with 3,369 ODI and 2,983 T20I runs. She also claimed 80 international wickets with her leg-breaks. Having debuted as a 15-year-old in 2006, she played 136 ODIs (the most for Pakistan) and 140 T20Is (the second-most, after Nida Dar).
