– Subhayan Chakraborty
As an iconic week in women’s cricket continues following the finalisation of five franchises in Women’s Premier League and with inaugural Under-19 Women’s World Cup approaching on January 29, the International Cricket Council (ICC), in a historic move, has announced an all-female panel of match officials for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa.
Comprising of three match referees and ten umpires, the 13-woman team marks a landmark moment in the ICC’s ongoing effort to promote the involvement and visibility of women in cricket.
The panel includes seven first-timers at the Women’s T20 World Cup, and follows a steady increase in the number of women officiating in global tournaments. The most experienced of the umpires is Claire Polosak, who has been officiating in every Women’s World Cup, T20 and ODI since 2016. The 34-year-old Australian will be officiating in her fourth T20 World Cup, while Sue Redfern of England, Jacqueline Williams of the West Indies, and Kim Cotton of New Zealand will be involved in their third Women’s T20 World Cups.
Lauren Agenbag will have the chance to umpire at a World Cup on home soil, and match referee Shandre Fritz will oversee games in her home country in her debut T20 World Cup. Fritz, who represented the Proteas on home soil as a player at the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup, is joined as match referee by GS Lakshmi of India.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager of Cricket, stated, “We are thrilled to announce this panel of match officials for the Women’s T20 World Cup. Women’s cricket has been growing rapidly in recent years and as part of that we have been building the pathways to ensure more women have the opportunity to officiate at the highest level.” He also added, “This is just the start of our journey where men and women enjoy the same opportunities across our sport. We are committed to continuing to support our female match officials and provide opportunities to showcase their talents on the global stage.”
Snehal Pradhan, ICC Manager of Women’s Cricket, also commented, “Having this match officials panel is so special. It shows the next generation that there is a career and a pathway that takes them to the very top of the game, the World Cup, even if you’re not a player. It shows that there are so many ways to get involved.”
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 will begin on February 10th as the hosts South Africa take on Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
Match Officials at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023
Match Referees: GS Lakshmi (India), Shandre Fritz (South Africa), Michell Pereira (Sri Lanka)
Umpires: Sue Redfern (England), Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Claire Polosak (Australia), Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Lauren Agenbag (South Africa), Anna Harris (England), Vrinda Rathi (India), N Janani (India), Nimali Perera (Sri Lanka)