Pakistan batter Javeria Khan announces retirement from international cricket

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s veteran batter Javeria Khan has announced her retirement from international cricket, bringing curtains to her 15-year-long career.

Javeria made her ODI debut in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka in a Women’s Asia Cup fixture against Sri Lanka on May 6, 2008 and went on to make her T20I debut against Ireland at Dublin in 2009.

She went on to represent Pakistan women’s team in 228 international matches and scored 4,903 runs, which included two centuries and 25 half-centuries, while also bagging 28 wickets with her off-break bowling.

"I want to call it a day and announce my retirement, however, I will be available for league cricket. I am grateful to the unwavering support I received throughout my career.

"I want to thank my family, teammates, the Pakistan Cricket Board, my department ZTBL for their support and guidance at each step, and my fans whose appreciation was instrumental in bringing out the best in me. I have been blessed to hold Pakistan’s flag globally," said Javeria in a statement.

The 35-year-old retires as the second leading run scorer in ODIs and T20Is for the Pakistan women's team and is the only women's cricketer from Pakistan to have scored over 2,000 runs in each format besides fellow batter Bismah Maroof.

Javeria represented Pakistan in four 50-over World Cups (2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022) and in all eight T20 World Cups (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023) held since its inception. She was also part of the Pakistan women’s team squad that won gold in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games held in China and South Korea, respectively.

She also captained Pakistan women’s team in 17 ODIs and 16 T20Is. Among the 16 T20Is, she captained the side in two editions (2018 and 2020) of ICC Women’s T20 World Cups. The 35-year-old Karachi born player also participated in the PCB Level 2 Cricket Coach course held in August last year in Lahore.

"On behalf of the PCB and all cricket fans, I extend heartfelt gratitude to Javeria Khan for her invaluable contributions to women's cricket in Pakistan. Her glittering records with the bat speak for themselves and I am confident that her illustrious career will inspire many girls in the country to not just take up this sport but also excel at it across many years.

“As Javeria announces her retirement, we reflect on her remarkable career and services she has rendered for Pakistan cricket. We thank her for her untiring commitment and wish her all the success in her future endeavours,” said Tania Mallick, PCB Head of Women’s Cricket.