Pakistan’s most prominent female cricketer and former captain Bisma Maroof has announced her retirement, ending a pioneering 17-year career in which she became a champion of women’s rights.
The 32-year-old brought an end to her international career on Thursday after playing in Pakistan’s 3-0 home defeat in the one-day international series against West Indies.
“I have decided to retire from the game I love the most,” Maroof was quoted in a statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“It has been an amazing journey filled with challenges, victories and unforgettable memories.”
The left-handed batsman has scored 3369 runs in 136 One-Day Internationals and 2893 runs in 140 Twenty20 Internationals, both records for Pakistan.
She captained the Pakistan team in 62 T20Is, winning 27 and winning 16 in 34 ODIs.
She will continue to play an active role in the cricket league.
Malouf’s journey became a symbol of gender rights in a patriarchal society where women’s participation in sports challenges strict social norms.
She gave birth in August 2021, prompting the PCB to introduce a maternity clause in the central contract for women cricketers allocating paid maternity leave.
Maroof and her daughter Fatima gained huge support during the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, with videos of Indian players playing with the baby going viral on social media.
The International Cricket Council posted a photo of the mother-daughter duo on social media platform X with the caption: “Little Fatima’s first lessons in the spirit of cricket from India and Pakistan.”
Maloof thanked PCB for its support during her time as a mother.
“The support from PCB has been invaluable, especially in implementing my first parent policy, which has allowed me to represent my country at the highest level while also being a mother,” she said. said.
Maroof won gold medals with Pakistan at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games and played in four Women’s ODI World Cups from 2009 to 2022.
She also played in eight T20 World Cups, including the last one in 2023.
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