Pakistan women’s cricket has said goodbye to one of its familiar faces this week. Fast bowler and pacer Aiman Anwar has officially announced her retirement from international cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the news on Wednesday, August 26.
Her retirement takes effect immediately, closing a journey that began nearly a decade ago. Aiman Anwar made her international debut for Pakistan Women Team back in 2016. Since then, she became a familiar name in the country’s women’s bowling attack.
The timing of this announcement carries added weight for Pakistan cricket fans. It comes just two days before Pakistan’s campaign begins at the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. The tournament will be hosted in the UAE for the very first time this year.
A Career Expanding for Nearly a Decade
Aiman Anwar represented Pakistan across two limited overs formats between July 2016 and February 2023. She played 37 T20 Internationals and eight One Day Internationals ODIs during that timeline. In total, her international career spanned 45 appearances for the national side.
There is an interesting coincidence tied to her T20I debut for Pakistan. Aimen became the 37th player to ever represent the country in that format.
Her maiden ODI cap followed nearly a year later, coming against Bangladesh vs Pakistan in Colombo. That appearance marked the start of her career across both white-ball formats.
Numbers That Define Her International Career
Her statistics tell the story of a reliable, right-arm medium-pace bowling option. She finished her T20I career with 29 wickets.
In One Day Internationals, she added four more wickets across her eight appearances. Combined across both formats, she finished with exactly 33 international wickets.
Her final bowling average in T20Is stood at 29.44 which is a solid mark for a seam bowler. These numbers reflect years of consistent effort during a period of transition. Pakistan’s women team underwent major changes in personnel throughout her playing years.
World Cup Appearances and Career Highlights
Aiman Anwar represented Pakistan at three editions of Women’s World Cup during her career. She was featured in the 2018, 2020, and 2023 tournaments across three different host nations. Her final World Cup appearance came in South Africa during the 2023 edition.
She also earned a place in Pakistan’s squad for the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. That tournament, held in New Zealand, marked a major milestone in her career.
Her last T20I appearance followed a year later against West Indies. That group stage match at the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup proved to be her international farewell. She did not feature for Pakistan again after that tournament concluded.
Before reaching the international stage, she first gained recognition through domestic cricket. She played for Karachi Under-19 at the PCB National Under-19 Women’s Championship in January 2010. That early bowling exposure was her first building step and it helped her for her later national team career.
She also enjoyed success representing PCB Challengers in domestic tournaments over the years. Her side won the 2019-20 Triangular T20 Women’s Tournament during that period.
Life After International Cricket
Her connection to the sport did not end but it took a slight turn towards broadcasting. She spent time working as a broadcaster following her final international appearance. This helped her remain closely involved with the game she had represented for years.
More recently, she decided to pursue a completely new path within cricket administration. She completed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s official match referee induction course earlier this year. This is a new step towards her sports career.
Official Confirmation and Public Reaction
The Pakistan Cricket Board shared the news through its official social media channels this week. The post read, “Aiman Anwar announces her retirement from international cricket and embarks on the next chapter of her cricket journey.” The board used the hashtag “Back Our Girls” alongside the announcement.
Cricket followers across Pakistan reacted with appreciation for her years of service to the team. Her retirement leaves Pakistan needing to find fresh options within their pace bowling department. This challenge arrives at a particularly important moment for the women’s team.
Captain Fatima Sana now leads a squad preparing for a major continental assignment in the Asia Cup. Pakistan have been placed in Group A for the tournament alongside India, Thailand, and Hong Kong. The competition runs from August 28 till September 13, 2026.
