Nida Dar, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated women cricketers, has announced an indefinite break from the game, citing personal reasons and the need to protect her mental health. Dar, who has not featured since October 2023, shared the news through a statement on X without specifying a timeline for her return.

“I would like to inform that a lot of things have happened in the past with me personally and professionally and this has affected my mental health," Dar said. "For this reason I am taking a break for a while from cricket to focus on myself.”

Pakistan’s next assignment is a T20I series in Ireland in August, followed by the ODI Women’s World Cup in September. Dar was not part of the squad that secured World Cup qualification earlier this month.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the current women’s management does not consider the 38-year-old a part of their immediate plans, citing concerns over her fitness—she reportedly failed a fitness test earlier this year—and declining form, particularly with the bat. In her last 24 T20I innings, Dar averaged under 17, without crossing 30 once, and her bowling figures have also worsened since 2023.

Though Dar’s announcement reportedly came without prior intimation to the PCB, it does not constitute an official retirement. Her legacy, however, remains unparalleled: Pakistan’s leading T20I wicket-taker (144 wickets), second globally behind Megan Schutt, and second-highest ODI wicket-taker (108 wickets) behind Sana Mir. With 2091 T20I runs and 1690 ODI runs, she remains one of Pakistan’s top allrounders.

Nida Dar Takes Indefinite Break from Cricket

Nida Dar, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated women cricketers, has announced an indefinite break from the game, citing personal reasons and the need to protect her mental health. Dar, who has not featured since October 2023, shared the news through a statement on X without specifying a timeline for her return.

“I would like to inform that a lot of things have happened in the past with me personally and professionally and this has affected my mental health," Dar said. "For this reason I am taking a break for a while from cricket to focus on myself.”

Pakistan’s next assignment is a T20I series in Ireland in August, followed by the ODI Women’s World Cup in September. Dar was not part of the squad that secured World Cup qualification earlier this month.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the current women’s management does not consider the 38-year-old a part of their immediate plans, citing concerns over her fitness—she reportedly failed a fitness test earlier this year—and declining form, particularly with the bat. In her last 24 T20I innings, Dar averaged under 17, without crossing 30 once, and her bowling figures have also worsened since 2023.

Though Dar’s announcement reportedly came without prior intimation to the PCB, it does not constitute an official retirement. Her legacy, however, remains unparalleled: Pakistan’s leading T20I wicket-taker (144 wickets), second globally behind Megan Schutt, and second-highest ODI wicket-taker (108 wickets) behind Sana Mir. With 2091 T20I runs and 1690 ODI runs, she remains one of Pakistan’s top allrounders.