Former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof announces retirement

Bismah Maroof, the former Pakistan captain, has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect on Thursday. The 32-year-old represented Pakistan in 136 ODIs and 140 T20Is in an illustrious career spanning over 17 years. Even though she was unable to cross three figures in international cricket, she owns the record for most runs for Pakistan in both formats – 3369 in ODIs and 2893 in T20Is, and the most half-centuries – 21 and 12 respectively.

Having made her international bow as a 15-year-old in 2006, she was handed the captaincy of the national team in T20Is in 2016 and ODIs a year later. She marshalled her troops in 34 ODIs and 62 T20Is, winning 16 and 27 matches respectively – fetching the best win percentage among Pakistan women captains.

Despite nursing several injuries, Maroof managed to feature in eight world cups during her career and was also a part of the team that won the Asian Games gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

Apart from being the backbone of Pakistan’s batting and one of their better fielders for more than a decade, Maroof picked 80 international wickets with her part-time legspin.

“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.”