Saleema Imtiaz becomes Pakistan's first woman umpire on ICC International Development Panel
Written by I Dig Sports"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," Imtiaz said in a statement released by the PCB. "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."
"Ever since Kainat made her debut for Pakistan in 2010, my own dream has been to represent my country at an international level," she said. "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."
Imtiaz began her umpiring career with the PCB women's panel in 2008 and she had officiated in the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 ACC Emerging Women's Cup in Hong Kong as well.
The four umpires to be promoted from the development panel to the supplementary panel are: Anser Mahmood (with effect from 1 November), Jamshid Iqbal, Naseer Ahmed and Zeeshan Arif.