After nearly 16 years at the pinnacle of international cricket, former Pakistan captain Javeria Khan has announced her retirement. With 228 white-ball matches under her belt, she leaves behind an illustrious career, amassing a total of 4903 runs across both formats. Khan’s departure marks the end of an era for Pakistan cricket, as she bids farewell to the sport, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, skill, and remarkable achievements on the field.
Javeria’s Retirement:
Javeria expressed her sentiments on a social media platform, sharing her thoughts and feelings with her followers and well-wishers in a heartfelt message. She wrote, “There was joy and sorrow, but above all a sense of great pride that kept me going for 15 years. The privilege of wearing Pakistan’s jersey was way bigger than the odds that struck through my cricketing journey. I am blessed to have lived my life doing what I loved doing the most and will continue to do so.”
She added, “Now when I look back, it gives me great satisfaction to see that the path that my friends and I chose to walk on was least trodden when I started playing professionally but is now open for so many girls in Pakistan.”
She also wrote, “Things change, scripts change and new paths beckon. There is a time for everything, and now I believe is the best time to call it a day and announce my retirement. However, I’ll be available to play league cricket. I will always be grateful to Pakistan for letting me hold Pakistan’s flag globally.”
Javeria Khan’s Career:
Javeria Khan embarked on her ODI journey in 2008, marking the beginning of a remarkable international career. She graced the ODI World Cup stages in 2009, 2013, and 2017, showcasing her prowess on the global stage. Despite encountering a dip in form, she made a solitary appearance in the 2022 edition against India in Mount Maunganui. Additionally, after a hiatus of 15 months, Khan staged a triumphant return to Pakistan’s T20I squad in November 2022, culminating her international journey with a memorable stint at the T20 World Cup in 2023.
Javeria Khan’s leadership tenure in T20 Internationals encompassed 16 matches, highlighted by her captaincy during the prestigious T20 World Cup in 2018. Additionally, she stepped up to lead the team in two matches of the 2020 edition when regular captain Bismah Maroof was sidelined due to injury. In ODIs, Javeria captained the side on 17 occasions, showcasing her leadership versatility across formats.
Notably, she secured the second position in Pakistan’s list of highest run-scorers in both T20Is and ODIs, a testament to her batting prowess and consistency on the international stage. Javeria’s leadership and batting contributions have significantly enriched Pakistan Women’s cricket over the years.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s head of women’s cricket Tania Mallick said, “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.”
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