Pakistan women's fast bowler Aiman Anwer announced her retirement from international cricket on Wednesday to become a match referee.
Anwer's departure removes a veteran presence from the national squad just as the team prepares for the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026. Her transition into officiating marks a rare move for a high-profile active player moving directly into a regulatory role.
Anwer shared the news via X, the social-media platform, stating that she is starting a new chapter. "Starting a new chapter as a match referee draws the curtain on the previous one, but the book remains the same," Anwer said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that Anwer has stepped away from international cricket with immediate effect, the board said.
Anwer retires at age 34 [1]. Over a playing career that spanned approximately 10 years [5], she became a staple of the Pakistan bowling attack. She earned 45 international appearances [3] across One Day International (ODI), and T20 International (T20I) formats.
During those appearances, she took a total of 33 wickets [4]. Her international experience included representing Pakistan in three T20 World Cups [6].
Anwer's decision to leave the field for the referee's stand follows a decade of service to the national team. By moving into officiating, she joins a small group of former players who transition into match officiating to maintain a professional connection to the sport.
“"Starting a new chapter as a match referee draws the curtain on the previous one, but the book remains the same."”
Anwer's transition from player to match referee highlights a growing trend of professionalizing the officiating pipeline in women's cricket. By recruiting experienced former internationals, cricket governing bodies can bring technical expertise and player perspective to game management, potentially improving the quality of officiating in the women's game.
