NEW DELHI: Saleema Imtiaz has made history as the first Pakistani woman nominated to the ICC international panel of development umpires, announced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday. This milestone allows Imtiaz to officiate in women's bilateral international matches and ICC women's events.
Imtiaz expressed her enthusiasm about the nomination, stating, “This isn’t just a win for me, it’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan. I hope my success motivates countless women who dream of making their mark in the sport."
She emphasized that this achievement highlights the increasing role of women in cricket and the PCB's dedication to supporting their development.
Imtiaz's daughter, Kainat, has represented Pakistan in 40 international games, including 19 one-day internationals and 21 T20s. Motivated by her daughter's debut against South Africa in 2010, Imtiaz pursued her own dream of representing Pakistan internationally.
“My own dream was to represent my country at an international level,” Imtiaz said.
“I’ve had opportunities with the Asian Cricket Council, but officiating at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal.”
Since joining the PCB’s women’s umpires panel in 2008, Imtiaz has officiated in several Asian Cricket Council tournaments over the past three years.
Her first assignment in a bilateral series will be the three-match T20 series between the Pakistan and South Africa women's teams, starting Monday in Multan.
