Saleema Imtiaz becomes first Pakistan woman umpire on ICC International Development Panel

Saleema Imtiaz: first Pakistan woman umpire on ICC International Development PanelSaleema Imtiaz has become the first woman from Pakistan to be nominated to the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires. She could umpire in women’s bilateral international matches and ICC Women’s Events with this nomination. It is worth noting that Saleema is the mother of Pakistan women’s cricketer Kainat Imtiaz.

Saleema began her umpiring career after she was named to the PCB Women’s Umpires Panel in 2008. Her achievements include officiating in 2022 and 2024 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the 2023 ACC Emerging Women’s Cup in Hong Kong. In the ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, she was a member of playing control team. As PCB highlighted her latest nomination, Saleema said that the fruit is after hard work and personal sacrifices.

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“I am beyond thrilled to join the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires. I owe immense gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for the invaluable opportunities that paved the way for this achievement. The journey has been filled with hard work and personal sacrifices, but now, standing at the cusp of this new chapter, it all feels worth it,” Saleema was quoted as saying by PCB's official website.

It’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire, says Saleema 

The veteran will commence her first assignment by officiating in the Pakistan-South Africa women’s T20I series in Multan, scheduled to commence on September 16. Similar to how Shaiza Khan and Sharmeen Khan pioneered women’s cricket in Pakistan, Saleema has emerged one of a kind in umpiring circuit. She also hopes that more women follow her footsteps. 

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“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. This moment reflects the growing influence of women in cricket and the PCB’s commitment to fostering that development. I sincerely hope to see more women follow in my footsteps and embrace this beautiful game,” she added.

Officiating at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal: Saleema 

Her daughter, Kainat is a decorated women’s cricketer from Pakistan. She has played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is for the country.  Saleema revealed that representing Pakistan at an international level was her dream. She vows to see herself as a reliable official going forward.  

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“Ever since Kainat made her debut for Pakistan in 2010, my own dream has been to represent my country at an international level. While I’ve had opportunities with the Asian Cricket Council, officiating at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal. I’m now focused on performing to the best of my abilities in both bilateral and ICC matches, and building my reputation as a reliable and respected match official,” Saleema concluded.