Pakistan cricketer Bismah Maroof pulled the curtains on her illustrious career after announcing her retirement on Thursday, April 25. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement where the 32-year-old from Lahore talked about her decision to hang her boots after serving the national team for 17 years since 2006.
In 136 WODIs and 140 WT20Is, Maroof scored 3369 and 2893 runs respectively, with 33 fifties to her name. She was also a handy bowler with 80 wickets, including a 4-wicket haul. Apart from her statement to the PCB, Maroof also dropped an emotional post on her social media handle, saying that she “collected a treasure trove of beautiful memories”.
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“I have decided to retire from the game I love the most. It has been an incredible journey, filled with challenges, victories, and unforgettable memories. I want to express my gratitude to my family, who has supported me throughout my cricketing journey, from the very beginning until now,” Maroof said.
“I also want to extend my thanks to the Pakistan Cricket Board for believing in me and providing the platform to showcase my talent. The support from the PCB has been invaluable, particularly in implementing the first-ever parental policy for me, which enabled me to represent my country at the highest level while being a mother,” she quipped.
Deeply grateful to the fans
In 2020, Maroof took a break from cricket as she was set to embrace motherhood. In 2021, she became a mother to daughter ‘Fatima’, but returned to lead the Pakistan national team in the Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand.
She also represented Pakistan in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. During this while, her daughter also accompanied her to several venues around the world.
“I am deeply grateful to the fans whose unwavering support has been a constant throughout my career, wherever and whenever I represented my country,” Maroof said.
“Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow players, who have become like family to me. The camaraderie we shared both on and off the field is something I will cherish forever,” she added.
Maroof last played international cricket in Pakistan’s home ODI series against the West Indies. In 3 games, the veteran left-hander scored 91 runs at an average of 30.33 and a strike-rate of 58.33 with a top score of 65 to show for her efforts. Maroof also had the privilege of captaining Pakistan in 62 WT20Is and 34 WODIs.
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