The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on 26 August 2026, that 34-year-old fast bowler Aiman Anwer has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. Anwer last represented Pakistan in February 2023. Following her playing career, she immediately transitioned into match officiating.
The 29-year-old made her debut as a match referee in the National Women’s Under-19 Tournament on August 24, after completing her mandatory induction course earlier this year. The Karachi-born bowler announced her decision just days before Pakistan opens its campaign in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026.
4️⃣5️⃣ international matches from 2016 to 2023 🇵🇰@aimanunver announces her retirement from international cricket and embarks on the next chapter of her cricket journey 🏏
More details ➡️ https://t.co/2R1Px8rncV#PakistanCricket | #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/gSLkJEuTDF
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 26, 2026
Why She Was Dropped From International Squad
Aiman Anwer featured in four major white-ball ICC World Cup tournaments for Pakistan. She played in three Women’s T20 World Cups, which took place in 2018, 2020, and 2023. She also travelled with the national squad to New Zealand for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022.
Pakistan fast bowler Aiman Anwer has called time on her international playing career to start a new chapter as a match referee.
She played eight ODIs and 37 T20Is from 2016 to 2023, last representing her country at the T20 World Cup in South Africa pic.twitter.com/yMLtJqvhO0
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) August 26, 2026
Anwer lost her place in the national team after she remained wicketless in her final eight T20I appearances. She made her final ODI appearance against England in a league stage match during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand.
A year later, she played her last international match against the West Indies in a group stage fixture during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa. Following that match, she did not play another international fixture for her country.
How She Made the Switch to Officiating
Anwer has been looking at new career options in cricket since her last international match in 2023. She stepped away from playing cricket and then worked as a broadcaster. She then decided to get into match officiating. She has also passed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s induction course that is necessary to take up the role in January 2026.
This week Anwer officially began her career as an official. She was the match referee in the opening rounds of the National Women’s Under-19 Tournament, which began on August 24. Her new career comes at the close of her playing chapter after seven years representing Pakistan at the highest level.
Retired After Seven-Year International Career
Anwer represented Pakistan in 37 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and eight One-Day Internationals (ODIs) over a seven-year international career. Coincidentally, she became the 37th player to represent Pakistan in T20Is.
Anwer made her international debut in a T20I against England in Southampton in July 2016. This match began an international career that spanned seven years of active play. She earned her first ODI cap the following year, playing against Bangladesh in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in February 2017.
During her international career, Anwer took 33 wickets in total across both cricket formats. She claimed 29 of her 33 international wickets in the T20I format. She finished with a bowling average of 29.44 in T20Is and maintained an economy rate of nearly seven runs per over.
For more Cricket news and updates, follow Mostbet Blog
