Saleema Imtiaz scribed her name in the history of Pakistani Cricket as becoming the first female umpire to be selected for the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires. The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced her name for the ICC Panel on Sunday. The role enabled her to officiate any type of ICC women's events as well as women’s bilateral international matches. 

The extensive umpiring career of Saleema began in 2008 with the PCB Women’s Umpires Panel. Later on, the veteran umpire officiated in various high-profile events such as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cups in 2022 and 2024 etc. 

PCB disclosed a Press Release, where Saleema the mother of Pakistani Women’s cricketer Kainat Imtiaz shared her inspiring journey. She further conveyed her gratitude towards PCB. 

“The journey has been filled with hard work and personal sacrifices, but now, standing at the cusp of this new chapter, it all feels worth it,” Saleema stated. 

She further disclosed the numerous sacrifices she had made while continuing her statement - 

“This isn’t just a win for me — it’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan. I hope my success motivates countless women who dream of making their mark in the sport.” 

The 52-year-old umpire is solely focusing on giving her best in the future - 

“I’m now focused on performing to the best of my abilities in both bilateral and ICC matches, and building my reputation as a reliable and respected match official”.

She is scheduled for her first on-field duty, from Monday in a bilateral series officiating the Pakistan-South Africa women’s T20I series in Multan.