Saleema Imtiaz has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman nominated to the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires. This achievement qualifies her to officiate in women’s bilateral international matches and ICC women’s events. Her debut as an on-field umpire will be in the upcoming T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa, starting Monday in Multan.
In her statement, Imtiaz highlighted the significance of her achievement, saying, “This isn’t just a win for me; it’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan.” She expressed hope that her success will inspire more women to pursue their dreams in cricket.
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Imtiaz, who is also the mother of Kainat Imtiaz, a player with 40 international caps for Pakistan, has previously officiated in 22 T20Is, including as the on-field umpire for the Women’s Asia Cup final between Sri Lanka and India.
Her journey began with the PCB women’s panel in 2008, and she has also officiated in significant tournaments like the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 ACC Emerging Women’s Cup in Hong Kong.
In related changes, Ahmed Shahab, Khalid Mehmood Sr., Rana Muhammad Arshad, and Qaiser Waheed have been promoted to the PCB Elite Panel of Umpires, with Qaiser Waheed replacing Shozab Raza, who will retire on October 31. Additionally, Anser Mahmood, Jamshid Iqbal, Naseer Ahmed, and Zeeshan Arif have been promoted from the development panel to the supplementary panel, effective November 1.
