Pioneer of women's cricket in Pakistan, Sharmeen Khan passes away

Former Pakistan cricketer Sharmeen Khan, who played in the country's first-ever women's national team, passed away at the age of 46 in Lahore on Thursday.

Sharmeen, who was suffering from pneumonia, had arrived in Pakistan only two days ago and succumbed to the disease after a brief battle, confirmed the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Educated at Leeds in England, Sharmeen, along with her sister Shazia, was instrumental in getting Pakistan a women's cricket team. The sisters went onto secure International Women's Cricket Council membership for Pakistan in 1996 that cleared their path to the World Cup 1997 held in India.

Having made her Test debut against New Zealand in 1997 and ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 1998, the right-handed batter and pacer, Sharmeen had represented her side in two Tests and 26 ODIs until 2002.

-ANI