Ayesha Naseem: Pakistan cricketer retires at 18 to 'live life according to Islam'

Ayesha Naseem (Pic: PCB)

In a major development, Ayesha Naseem, an 18-year-old Pakistani cricketer, on Thursday announced her immediate retirement from all forms of international cricket, a surprise move coming when she was at the peak of her career.

In a shock revelation, the explosive batter said that she is leaving cricket to 'live her life according to Islam' from now onwards. It is believed that she informed her decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday. "I'm leaving cricket and want to live my life according to Islam," Naseem told PCB.

She made her international debut in 2020 and scored over 400 runs from just 34 international appearances. Tipped to be the next big thing in Pakistan women's cricket as many star cricketers are nearing the end of their playing careers, Ayesha was a regular in the women's T20I team and also featured in the ICC T20 World Cup 2023 held in February.

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Interestingly, the side hasn't played any international cricket since the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2023 in February. Ayesha represented her country at all times in the tournament and played a memorable knock against India in the group-stage game.

She hit 43' off just 25 with two fours and two sixes to help Pakistan put a 150-run target for India but Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian top-order led the batting onslaught to register a comfortable victory, with seven wickets remaining.

Ayesha scored 369 runs in 30 T20I matches at an average of 18.45 and a strike rate of 128.12 with her best knock coming against India women. In ODIs, she represented Pakistan in four matches and scored 33 runs.

The side is set to return to action with six-match white-ball series against South Africa women at home starting on September 1 in Karachi and then will travel to New Zealand in December.