New Delhi ,sep 11
The ICC have announced that the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will feature an all-female group of umpires and match officials for the first time in the history of the tournament, as per the ICC website.While three recent events – the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cups – have featured all-female match official panels, this is the first time in the history of the Women’s World Cup that the feat will be achieved.
“This marks a defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket, one that we hope will pave the way for many more trailblazing stories across all facets of the sport. The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket,” he said.”This development goes beyond symbolic value. It is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models who can inspire future generations. By highlighting excellence in officiating on the global stage, we aim to spark aspiration and reinforce that leadership and impact in cricket know no gender,” he added.”We are honoured to recognise a new chapter in the growth of the women’s game. We believe the influence of this initiative will resonate far beyond this tournament, motivating more women worldwide to pursue officiating careers and helping redefine what’s possible within the game,” he concluded.Panel of Match Officials: Match Referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell PereiraUmpires: Lauren Agenbag, Candace La Borde, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaste, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Gayathri Venugopalan, Jacqueline Williams.
