First Pakistani woman to officiate on the ICC International Development Panel is Saleema Imtiaz.The first female candidate from Pakistan to the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires is Saleema Imtiaz. With this nomination, she could officiate women’s bilateral international matches as well as ICC Women’s Events. It’s important to remember that Pakistani women’s cricket player Kainat Imtiaz is the mother of Saleema.
Saleema Imtiaz started off as an umpire after being selected for the PCB Women’s Umpires Panel in 2008. Her accomplishments include serving as an umpire at the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in 2022 and 2024, as well as the ACC Emerging Women’s Cup in Hong Kong in 2023. She played for the control team in the ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2024 in Kuala Lumpur. Saleema stated that hard work and personal sacrifices are necessary to get the benefits, as PCB showcased her most recent nomination.
“Joining the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires makes me incredibly happy.” I am incredibly appreciative of the Pakistan Cricket Board for providing me with the priceless chances that made this accomplishment possible. The PCB official website cited Saleema as stating, “The path has been filled with hard work and personal sacrifices, but now, standing at the cusp of this new chapter, it feels worth it.
Saleema claims that it’s a victory for all aspiring female cricket players and umpires.
Starting on September 16, the veteran will officiate in the Pakistan-South Africa women’s Twenty20 International series in Multan, marking the start of her first assignment. In the same way that Shaiza Khan and Sharmeen Khan established women’s cricket in Pakistan, Saleema has become a unique figure in the umpiring world. She also hopes that other women will take their cues from her.
“This is a victory not only for me, but also for other Pakistani female cricket players and umpires who aspire to be like me. I hope that many women who aspire to become prominent figures in sports are inspired by my accomplishment. This occasion is a reflection of women’s increasing impact in cricket and the PCB’s dedication to supporting that growth. She continued, “I genuinely hope to see more ladies enjoy this great game and follow in my footsteps.
The ultimate ambition has always been to officiate at the top level: Saleema Imtiaz
Her daughter Kainat is a distinguished Pakistani women’s cricket player. She has represented her nation in 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is. Saleema disclosed that her dream was to represent Pakistan internationally. She makes a commitment to always regard herself as a trustworthy official.
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My personal goal has been to represent Pakistan internationally ever since Kainat made her debut for the nation in 2010. Even though the Asian Cricket Council has given me opportunities, my ultimate objective has always been to officiate at the top level. Saleema stated, “I’m now concentrated on giving it my all in both bilateral and ICC matches and developing my name as a trustworthy and respected match official.
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