Kainat Imtiaz

Early life

Kainat Imtiaz born on 21 June 1992 in Karachi. Her early education started from Aga Khan School. She got admission in Hamdard Public School when she reached class III. She loved to sports since her childhood. At the age of 17, she was not only an avid sportswoman but was also phenomenal at scoring good grades consistently. She passed her intermediate from Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karachi (AKHSS) in 2010.

During 2005 Women's Asia Cup in Pakistan, Kainat met Indian fast bowler Jhulan Goswami and decided to become fast bowler. In 2005, at the young age of 10 she represented Karachi Blues in a hard ball tournament organized by Pakistan Cricket Board. In 2006, she took part in District Athletic Championship and was awarded the Best Athlete of the Year 2006. She represented Aga Khan Club in the Inter-Club Tournament organized by Pakistan Cricket Board. Playing as a fast strike bowler she took wickets of experienced players. After an eye opening performance by her she was recommended for the Regional Cricket team but due to her juvenile age she was dropped by the coach.

U-17 Cricket (2007–2008)

In 2007, she represented her school as the captain and fast bowler in the U-17 Cricket tournament organized by Pakistan Cricket Board. She was declared Player of the Tournament; the prize was awarded by Dr. M. Ali Shah. In the same year she took first position in myriad of Athletic activities like 200M, 400M, Shot-put, and Relay Race. She traveled to Hyderabad to play the first ever U-17 Women Cricket Tournament as a captain of the Karachi Team.

Her determination did pay off as she was again selected for the Regional Cricket Team for Karachi, being the youngest player of the lot. This did not stop here though; she was selected for the Pakistan Camp held in Karachi for the World Cup qualifying round. She was the youngest player in the probables of 30 players.

In 2008, she played her second U-17 Women Cricket tournament held in Lahore as a captain giving an exceptional performance. In the same year she played Regional tournament held in Hyderabad and Lahore organized by Pakistan Cricket Board and her team won the tournament. She was selected for Pakistan Camp for the event of Women ICC World Cup Championship which was held in Australia. She was the youngest player among the players of the squad and after a camp of one month she was selected as a reserve player for the World Cup Team. During 2008 she first time went abroad to China representing Pakistan in the Super Sixes tournament. She took wickets of some well-known players of the Australian men Cricket team. She played her first 20–20 Quadrangular Women Cricket tournament as a strike fast bowler of the south zone team and gave her best performance. She joined the PIA Cricket Academy sharpening her skills under the supervision of coaches like Mr. Azeem Hafiz, Mr. Zahid, Mr. Sajid and the noteworthy of them all Mr. Sagheer Abbas (younger brother of the cricketing legend Mr. Zaheer Abbas). He supported Kainat very much encouraging her to give the best each and every time she stepped in the field. After honing her skills under the auspices of such great players and coaches she joined the Aga Khan Gymkhana Academy. She was taught by Mr. Ali Hussain Rizvi who gave his full attention and guidance to her.

Selection in A-Team (2009–2010)

The year 2009 has been the greatest year of her life. To start it all off she on 8 gold medals in the Athletic meet of AKHSS and Athlete of the year 2008–09 from amongst 500 students. Her cricketing career took a huge turn this year when she was called by PCB for the camp of Pakistan 'A' team and it was a matter of great honor and pride when she was selected for the Pakistan 'A' team. After her selection she represented Pakistan 'A' team in a series of three matches. After her outstanding performance in the series she was called upon by PCB Women Wing in the Pakistan Camp. She was one of the 30 girls called for the ICC 20–20 Women World Cup to be held in England in June 2009. She was selected in the team of 18 players and as a reserve player for the ICC 20–20 World Cup 2009. And after very long struggle, finally she made herself to be in PAKISTAN WOMEN CRICKET TEAM and she give her first debut on ICC Women Cricket Challenge held in SOUTH AFRICA in the month of October 2010. She gave an excellent performance on her debut match. She is the first youngest Ismaili to represent Pakistan at an International arena.

She was selected for 16th Asian Games held in GUANGZHOU CHINA.

T20 Debut (2010)

Imtiaz made her T20 debut against South Africa in 2010 at Potchefstroom.

Imtiaz was part of the team at the 2010 Asian Games in China which won gold.

Awards: First Ever Ismaili women to win cricket gold Medal at Asian Games.

ODI Debut (2011)

ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier Women's ODI debut: Kainat Imtiaz. 15 November 2011 Played at Narayanganj Osmani Stadiuma

Domestic career

Captain Karachi Under-17 Women's Cricket Team(2008) Captain Karachi Under-19 Women's Cricket Team (2009 and 2010) Captain Karachi Region Women's Cricket Team (Senior 2010 and 2012) Captain SINDH Team (Benazir Bhutto Tournament) (2012) Captain Omar Associates Cricket Club (2013–2016) Vice Captain Saif Saga Sports Club (2016–present)