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Fans are congratulating former Pakistan Women’s Cricket captain Bismah Maroof on a glorious 17-year career after she announced her retirement on Thursday afternoon.

The news was announced by the PCB on X.

Maroof also shared a note on her X account in which she reflected on her 17-year career.

“With a mixture of emotions, I bid farewell to the incredible journey of representing Pakistan on the international stage,” she wrote, thanking everyone who helped her during her career. She also thanked the fans, “whose unwavering passion fuelled our spirits, thank you for rooting for us”.

Her note and the official announcement were met with heavy hearts but warm congratulations are people wished her luck with her future endeavours.

Fans see her as a role model for young girls aspiring to play cricket and an inspiration to many.

Former cricket captain Urooj Mumtaz Khan called her “one of the finest to don the gold star” and said she always led the team with dignity.

One fan reminded everyone that Maroof’s contributions to cricket go far beyond scoring runs — she was a trailblazer for leading Pakistan in a World Cup soon after giving birth.

In fact, she was the first Pakistani cricket to benefit from the PCB’s policy of 12-months of parental leave for women cricketers — a policy made public a week after she announced she would be going on indefinite maternity leave.

Fans were pretty heartbroken over the news of her retirement, and some said they simply couldn’t stand for it.

It really is very, very sad.

But no matter how sad everyone is, it doesn’t outweigh how proud they are.

We wish Maroof all the best in her new journey!