Amna Sharif Tariq: The Inspiring Captain Leading Kuwait’s Women’s Cricket

If you follow women’s cricket in the Gulf, you’ve almost certainly heard the name Amna Sharif Tariq. She’s the captain of the Kuwait women’s national cricket team, a dependable all-rounder, and one of the biggest reasons women’s cricket in Kuwait has grown so much over the past decade. Let’s take a friendly look at her journey, from a newspaper advert to leading her country on the international stage!

Quick Facts About Amna

• Full name: Amna Sharif Tariq
• Born: 19 April 1989, Kuwait
• Role: All-rounder and captain
• Batting: Right-handed
• Bowling: Right-arm leg-break
• Shirt number: 8
• T20I debut: 18 February 2019 vs Malaysia (Kuwait’s cap number 1!)
• Captain since: 2020

A Sporty Childhood

Amna has always been a sports lover. Growing up, she tried just about every sport she could, from athletics to basketball. In fact, basketball was her main sport before cricket came along, and she has said she would probably still be playing it with the same passion if cricket hadn’t happened.

She also enjoyed watching cricket on TV and cheering for her favourite teams, but she never imagined she would one day be playing the game so seriously herself.

How It All Started: A Newspaper Advert

Here’s a fun fact: Amna’s cricket story began with a simple newspaper advertisement! Cricket Kuwait placed an advert inviting women to trials for the country’s first-ever women’s team. Amna went along to see what it was all about.

But the timing wasn’t right. She was about to leave Kuwait for her higher studies, so she couldn’t join the squad. Still, she stayed in touch with the coach over the years. When she returned home in 2013, the team was preparing for an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournament, and Amna jumped right in. The rest, as they say, is history.

Early Days and Domestic Success

Amna made an impression straight away. In her debut year, 2013, she was named the best batswoman (sharing the honour with teammate Maryam Omar) at a women’s cricket competition held at Sulaibiya in Kuwait.

She went on to captain teams in domestic matches many times, showing the calm leadership that would later make her the obvious choice to lead the national side.

Representing Kuwait on the Big Stage

In 2016, Amna was picked for the Kuwait squad that travelled to Sharjah for the first-ever nine-day UAE International Women’s T20 tournament. From there, her international career really took off:

• 2019: Played in the ICC Women’s Qualifier Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, and made her official T20I debut against Malaysia.
• 2020: Named full-time captain of the national team.
• 2021: Led Kuwait at the ICC qualifiers at the ICC Academy in Dubai. The results were tough, but the team showed real progress.
• 2022: Kuwait improved at the GCC Women’s Gulf Cup in Oman and the Asia Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia.
• 2024–2026: Continued to lead Kuwait in ACC events, tours and qualifiers across Asia and the Gulf.

Proud Moments as Captain

Amna’s captaincy has given Kuwait some memorable firsts. Under her leadership, Kuwait won its first ICC-affiliated T20I triangular tournament in Qatar in 2020, beating hosts Qatar and Oman. What a moment for the team!

In the ACC Women’s T20 Championship 2022, Kuwait also picked up a win against Bhutan, with Amna chipping in with the ball by taking the wicket of Bhutan’s Ngawang Choden.

Amna believes a captain can shape a team’s culture, but she’s quick to say that success is always a team effort. A leader can set a positive, focused and disciplined tone, but it takes all eleven players to make it work.

Amna’s Numbers

As one of Kuwait’s original T20I players, Amna has been part of almost every chapter of the team’s international story. Here’s a snapshot of her Women’s T20I career:

Stats as listed on Wikipedia’s list of Kuwait women T20I cricketers in 2026. Check ESPNcricinfo for the very latest figures.

Her bowling is where she really shines. With her leg-spin she has been among Kuwait’s leading wicket-takers, and she was one of seven players awarded a national contract by Kuwait Cricket in 2021, earning a Category A deal.

Her Cricket Heroes

Every cricketer has idols, and Amna’s are a classy bunch. She has named Kumar Sangakkara, Kane Williamson and Ellyse Perry as the players she looks up to. Calm, smart and consistent, much like Amna herself!

More Than Just a Player

Amna gives back to the game in other ways too. She’s a Level 2 qualified umpire and a Level 1 cricket coach. Away from the pitch, she loves travelling and photography. Along with cricket, these are the things that make her happiest.

Like most of her teammates, Amna has played as a part-time cricketer, balancing the game with work or study. That makes her achievements even more impressive.

Her Dream for Women’s Cricket in Kuwait

Amna’s big goal is clear: she wants to see Kuwait play in a World Cup one day. She believes that with the right guidance, a proper structure and committed players, it’s absolutely possible.

She has also spoken about what Kuwait needs to get there:

• More support from both the local Kuwaiti and expatriate communities
• Government backing for the sport
• Cricket in schools and clubs, just like football and basketball
• Equal focus and opportunities for women and men from cricket boards
• More tournaments for associate nations from the ICC and ACC

She has seen positive changes already, such as talent hunts, regular practice sessions, fitness assessments and the chance for girls to play in men’s domestic, school and junior cricket to build confidence.

Final Thoughts

Amna Sharif Tariq’s story is a wonderful reminder that big journeys can start with small moments, even a newspaper advert. From her first trials to captaining Kuwait and winning historic matches, she has become a true role model for girls in Kuwait and across the Gulf who dream of playing cricket.

Here’s to Amna and the Kuwait women’s team, and to many more wins ahead! 🏏

Do you follow Kuwait women’s cricket? Share your thoughts in the comments below!