(Cricket News) Javeria Khan, the former Pakistani captain has called time to her international career. She announced her retirement from her 16-year long cricketing career through a social media post on Thursday (21st March).
“There was joy and sorrow, but above all a sense of great pride that kept me going for 15 years,” the 35-year-old wrote in her retirement note. “The privilege of wearing Pakistan’s jersey was way bigger than the odds that struck through my cricketing journey. I am blessed to have lived my life doing what I loved doing the most and will continue to do so.
“Now when I look back, it gives me great satisfaction to see that the path that my friends and I chose to walk on was least trodden when I started playing professionally but is now open for so many girls in Pakistan.
“Things change, scripts change and new paths beckon,” Javeria wrote. “There is a time for everything, and now I believe is the best time to call it a day and announce my retirement. However, I’ll be available to play league cricket. I will always be grateful to Pakistan for letting me hold Pakistan’s flag globally.”
Javeria made her international debut in 2008. She represented the Pakistan’s women side in a total of 116 ODIs and ended as Pakistan’s second highest run-getter in the 50-over format with a total of 2285 runs. She was also a part of 12 T20Is for her nation.
Javeria also led Pakistan in a total of 17 ODIs and was also the skipper of the T20 side for some time. She was acting as the deputy for Bismah Maroof, since Sana Mir stepped down as the skipper.
Her last international assignment for Pakistan was in the 2023 World Cup, were she made a comeback, post loosing the Central contracts last year, owning to her poor run of form
“On behalf of the PCB and all cricket fans, I extend heartfelt gratitude to Javeria Khan for her invaluable contributions to women’s cricket in Pakistan,” Tania Mallick, PCB’s head of women’s cricket, said in a statement. “Her glittering records with the bat speak for themselves and I am confident that her illustrious career will inspire many girls in the country to not just take up this sport but also excel at it across many years.”
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