History of umpire Salimar by joining the international panel of umpires of ICC

Salima Imtiaz made history by being included in ICC International Umpire Development Panel. She is the first Pakistani woman umpire to be included in this panel. Salima Imtiaz and Kainat Imtiaz should be familiar names to those who follow women's cricket. They are mother-daughter relationship.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday (September 15) confirmed that Salima Imtiaz has been added to the ICC's International Umpire Development Panel. Through this, she qualified to officiate matches in women's bilateral series and ICC events.

Salima made her debut as an umpire in international cricket with the Women's Asia Cup held in Bangladesh in 2022. All-rounder Kainat, who was part of the Pakistan team in that tournament, congratulated his mother on social media, and the cricketing world got to know the relationship between the two better.

That Salima Imtiaz wrote her name in the pages of history. She became the first woman umpire of Pakistan to join the ICC panel. The 52-year-old umpire will now be able to conduct matches in international bilateral series and ICC events as he has been added to the development panel of the world cricket governing body. He will be seen umpiring in the T20 series between Pakistan and South Africa women's team starting tonight in Multan.

Salima is naturally excited about the news of being the first Pakistani woman umpire on the ICC panel. The woman, who has umpired in 22 women's T20 internationals so far, said in a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), "My journey has been full of hard work and sacrifices. But now standing on the cusp of a new chapter, it feels like my hard work has paid off. It's not just my victory, it's the victory of every aspiring women cricketer and umpire in Pakistan.'

Salima further said, 'I hope my success will inspire countless women who dream of making their mark in sports. It will also reflect the growing influence of women in cricket and the PCB's commitment to encourage that development.”

Salima's daughter Kainat made her international debut in 2010. The 32-year-old all-rounder has played 19 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Pakistan so far. Stating that her daughter is her inspiration, Salima said, "Since I made my international debut for Pakistan in 2010, it was my dream to represent the country at the international level. Although the Asian Cricket Council gave me opportunities earlier, my ultimate goal has always been to officiate at the highest level.'

However, Salima is not getting Kainat on the field in the Pakistan-South Africa first women's T20 today. Kainat has been away from the game for a long time as she is on maternity leave. However, he will be seen in the role of a commentator.

Salima became the first Pakistani woman umpire on the ICC panel, but Bangladesh received this good news earlier. Last March, four women umpires and one match referee from Bangladesh joined the ICC panel for the first time. Four umpires Sathira Zakir, Rokeya Sultana, Dolly Rani and Champa Chakma have been appointed to the ICC Development Panel. And Supriya Rani has been taken to the International Panel of ICC Match Referees.