(Cricket News) The former skipper of Pakistan women’s side, Bismah Maroof has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. Bismah represented her nation for a time span of 18 long years, after making her debut in 2006, when she was just 15-year-old.
Bismah played a total of 136 ODIs and 140 T20Is for Pakistan in her long journey. She scored 3369 runs in ODIs and 2893 runs in T20Is and holds the record for most runs for Pakistan in both the white-ball formats. She also holds the record of most fifties by a Pakistan women. She however failed to register an international ton.
Bismah after making her debut in 2006, took of the reigns of the Pakistan national side in T20Is in 2016 and in ODIs an year after. She accounted for the best win percentage amongst Pakistani women captains, with 16 wins out of 34 in ODIs and 27 wins out of 62 in T20Is.
Bismah battled through a lot injuries throughout her career which made her miss on some amount of cricket. However, she featured in a total of eight World Cups through her career. She also won two Asian Games gold medal with her side in 2010 and 2014.
“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,” she stated in a release. “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.”
ALSO READ : Indian domestic players to earn upto INR 75 Lakhs
