Saleema Imtiaz has become the first woman from Pakistan to officiate at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Having already made history in September 2024 as Pakistan’s first woman umpire on the ICC International Development Panel, Saleema joined the ongoing tournament’s panel as a replacement for South African umpire Lauren Agenberg.
Earlier, she served as fourth umpire for the India versus South Africa match at Old Trafford on June 21, then made her on-field T20 World Cup debut in the New Zealand versus Scotland fixture at Bristol.
On the same day, she stood as TV umpire for the Sri Lanka versus Ireland match.
Saleema later took on-field charge for the India versus Bangladesh match at Old Trafford and will finish her tournament as TV umpire for England versus New Zealand at The Oval as well as the fourth umpire for Australia versus India at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
“It is a great pleasure to be representing Pakistan at the biggest stage and an honour to become the first woman from my country to officiate in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup,” Saleema said.
“I’m immensely thankful to everyone including my family and the PCB for the invaluable support throughout this journey. Hopefully, I can inspire more women and girls back home to take up cricket professionally as a player as well as a match official,” she added.
The 54-year-old is the mother of former Pakistan women’s international cricketer Kainat Imtiaz. She started her umpiring career with the PCB women’s panel in 2008 and has since officiated nine Women’s ODIs and 58 Women’s T20Is.
