Seventeen-year-old off-spinner Rozeena Akram, who has set her sights on representing Pakistan’s senior women’s team, today revealed that she has taken a break from her studies to focus fully on a burgeoning cricket career that has seen a rapid rise in the youth ranks.
Currently playing for Invincibles in the National Women’s T20 Tournament 2025-26, the Islamabad native’s journey began with informal street games in 2019. ‘I started playing cricket in 2019 when I was in fifth grade. Initially, it was just casual games with my brother and his friends, but that’s where my journey began,’ Akram recalled.
Her family’s support proved crucial in transitioning from a casual hobby to a serious pursuit. Despite some initial resistance, her siblings were instrumental in her development. ‘My brother encouraged me to play and later my sister got me enrolled in a cricket club and pushed me to work hard,’ she stated.
The young athlete faced the difficult task of juggling her academic and sporting commitments, ultimately making the significant decision to prioritise her cricketing ambitions. ‘There were challenges, especially balancing studies and cricket. At one point, I took a break from studies to fully focus on cricket because I knew this is what I wanted to pursue.’
Akram”s raw talent was recognised at the grassroots level by a coach who steered her towards off-spin bowling. This guidance was followed by a demanding training schedule. ‘My routine was very tough, I used to spend the whole day at the academy, continuously working on my game,’ she explained.
Her dedication has yielded impressive results in age-group tournaments. She secured nine wickets for the Strikers in the National Women’s U19 Tournament 2024-25 and repeated the feat for the Stars in the National Women’s U19 T20 Tournament 2025-26, finishing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker.
These consistent performances earned her a call-up to the Pakistan U19 squad for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup in December 2024. ‘Representing Pakistan at the U19 level was a proud moment for me. Although I was nervous, it was a great learning experience,’ Akram said.
The exposure to international competition prompted her to diversify her bowling arsenal. ‘After that tournament, I realised the importance of variations. I worked on different deliveries like the carrom ball, arm ball and drift to become a more effective bowler,’ she noted.
Her development was further highlighted during the Pakistan U19 tour to Bangladesh in 2025, where she emerged as the team”s leading bowler with eight wickets. Akram, who enjoys the pressure of bowling in the powerplay, attributes her success to maintaining focus and the support of the team management.
The young off-spinner draws inspiration from established national players like Nida Dar and Sana Mir, studying their techniques to enhance her own game.
Participating in the current domestic tournament has provided invaluable experience, allowing her to learn from senior professionals. ‘Playing alongside senior players has helped me a lot. They guide me about fitness, diet and improving my bowling, which has boosted my confidence,’ she added.
Looking to the future, Akram’s objective is clear: to earn a place in the senior national side and make a significant impact. ‘My goal is to represent Pakistan and give my best for the country, especially in big matches.’