"Win for every aspiring female cricketer or umpire" - Saleema Imtiaz rises as Pakistan's first woman umpire on ICC Panel
Saleema Imtiaz has become the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC international panel of development umpires. She will make her international umpiring debut in the T20I series between Pakistan and South Africa which begins on Monday (September 16) in Multan.
The development panel can be seen as the third of the four levels of ICC's umpiring pathway, below the Emerging Umpire Panel and the Contracted Umpire Panel (which is equivalent to the Elite Panel for men's cricket). Under this, Imtiaz can officiate in women's matches at home across formats and men's ODIs and T20Is, apart from ICC regional pathway events.
"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 an official 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."
Imtiaz began her umpiring career in 2008 in the PCB women's panel and has since officiated in 22 T20Is. These include the high-octane Women's Asia Cup final in Dambulla between India and Sri Lanka this year.
Daughter's international debut encouraged Imtiaz
Saleema is the mother of Kainat Imtiaz, the former pacer who played 40 internationals for Pakistan and now works as a broadcaster.
"Ever since Kainat made her debut for Pakistan in 2010, my own dream has been to represent my country at an international level," the senior Imtiaz 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."
Pakistan and South Africa will play three T20Is on September 16, 18 and 20.