ISLAMABAD: Bismah Maroof has stepped down as the Pakistan women’s national team captain, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Wednesday, ahead of a new ICC Women’s Championship cycle and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Maroof, who will continue to play for the team, was named Pakistan’s all-format captain in September 2017 and has had the best win and loss ratio among all regular players to lead the country in One-Day Internationals (1.000) and T20 Internationals (0.843). Under her leadership, the ODI team played 34 matches and won 16, while the T20I side won 27 of 62 matches.
“Bismah Maroof has stepped down as Pakistan women’s national team captain but will remain available for selection as a player,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
Neither the Board, nor Maroof, have clearly explained her reasons for stepping down.
PCB Management Committee Chair, Najam Sethi, thanked Maroof for her services as the captain of the national women’s side.
“Bismah has been an inspiration for millions of girls and has been a catalyst for a positive change,” Sethi said. “With her immense dedication and hard work, she has shown that women can continue to follow their passions and dreams.”
He added that Maroof had offered to help to smoothen "the leadership transition."
The board is yet to announce a replacement for Maroof and said a decision would be made in “due course,” the PCB added.
The Board quoted Maroof as saying it had been an “honor” for her to captain the national team.
“I feel fortunate to have led an incredible and hardworking bunch of cricketers. It has been one exciting ride, which has been full of highs and lows, but, at the end of the day, I will always be thankful to Almighty for providing me [with] this opportunity,” Maroof said.
“With the new ICC Women’s Championship cycle in its initial stages and the 2024 T20 World Cup more than a year away, I think this is the right time for me to step down and help so we have a smooth transition.”