LAHORE: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup umpire Salima Imtiaz has achieved another feat in her pioneering career by becoming the first Pakistani woman to umpire the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
In September 2024, she also became the first woman referee from Pakistan to be appointed to the ICC International Development Panel.
Salima expressed her pride and joy at reaching the pinnacle of women’s cricket umpire, describing the appointment as a historic moment for her and Pakistan.
Representing the country on the world stage is a dream come true, she said, and hopes her achievement will inspire more women and girls to pursue careers in cricket as players and match officials.
“It is a great pleasure to represent Pakistan at the biggest stage and to be the first woman from my country to umpire the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup,” said Salima.
“I am very grateful to everyone including my family and PCB for their invaluable support throughout this journey. I can encourage more women and girls to take up cricket professionally as players and match officials,” she added.
Salima replaced Lauren Agenberg on the competition judging panel and made an immediate impact in several competitions.
She served as the fourth umpire for the India vs South Africa match at Old Trafford on June 21 before making her debut in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand and Scotland in Bristol.
On the same day, he also served as a television referee during the Sri Lanka vs Ireland match.
The veteran official then took the field for the India vs Bangladesh clash at Old Trafford and is set to complete his match duties as TV umpire for England vs New Zealand at The Oval and fourth umpire against Australia vs India at Lord’s.
The 54-year-old is also the mother of former Pakistan women’s international player Kainad Imtiaz, who started umpiring in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s women’s team in 2008.
She has umpired nine Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs) and 58 Women’s Twenty20 Internationals (WT20Is).