All-female panel of umpires named by ICC for Women’s World Cup with the delegation having 14 umpires and four referees.
ICC names all-female officiating panel for the Women’s ODI World Cup.
An all-female panel of umpires and referees will supervise and officiate the forthcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in India.
The 31-match competition, which starts on September 30, will include 18 officials in total—14 umpires and four referees. Following a trend observed at the last two Women’s T20 World Cups and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Women’s ODI World Cup will be officiated entirely by women for the first time.
Officials Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern will all be competing in their third World Cup, while Kim Cotton and Lauren Agenbag, who competed in the 2022 final, will also be returning. Another official from that event, Eloise Sheridan, is also on the roster. Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, Michell Pereira, and India’s GS Lakshmi are on the referees’ panel.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the move as a “defining moment” for the women’s game. “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.
“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.”