Bismah Maroof steps down as Pakistan captain

A week after Pakistan's last league match against England in the ICC T20 World Cup, Bismah Maroof has resigned as the captain of the women's team after leading the side in 64 T20Is and 34 ODIs. 

The decision comes after Pakistan managed to win only one of their four league matches courtesy of a 70-run win against Ireland but were on the receiving end against England, West Indies and India. 

There has been no bigger honour for me than leading the 🇵🇰 team. Now, I feel that it is the right time for a transition and chance to groom a young captain. I will always be there to assist, guide and support the team and the young captain in every way. Pakistan Zindabad!

— Bismah Maroof (@maroof_bismah) March 1, 2023

Najam Sethi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, shared that they have accepted her resignation and also stated that the 31-year-old is keen to help the new leader in this transition phase. 

"I have accepted the resignation of Bismah Maroof, Captain of Pakistan Women's National Team. She wants to make way for a younger colleague. But happily, she will continue to play for Pakistan and bring laurels for her country," he said on his Twitter account. 

Maroof made her debut for the national side in 2006 against arch-rivals India at Jaipur and since then has been an integral part of the Pakistan side for 17 years. 

The left-handed batter has amassed 3110 runs in 120 ODI innings at an average of 30.19, along with her 2658 runs in 126 T20I innings at an average of 27.12 and is the leading run-scorer for Pakistan across formats. 

Out of the 62 games she has led in the shortest format, Pakistan have won 27 matches and only managed to win 16 out of the 34 games in the fifty-overs. 

While she has stepped down as the skipper, Maroof will help the new leader and ensure there is a seamless transition as Pakistan gear up for a new and rejigged era in women's sport.