In a historic announcement, the ICC has named an all-female panel of umpires and match officials for the Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. This is the first time an all-female panel has been appointed for a Women's World Cup. The 13th edition of the tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on September 30. Notably, there are four Indians starring the panel with GS Lakshmi as referee and Janani N, Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan as umpires.
ICC appoints all-women team of match officials for Women's World Cup
The panel includes four match referees, Shandr Fritz, Trudy Anderson, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira, each bringing a unique set of skills to the game. The 14-person umpiring team features experienced officials like Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern, all of whom are officiating in their third Women's World Cup. They will be joined by Kim Cotton and Lauren Agenbag, who were part of the officiating team at the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand.
While all-female officiating panels have been used for the last two ICC Women's T20 World Cups and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, this is a significant milestone for the 50-over format. ICC Chairman Jay Shah praised the decision as a momentous occasion for women's cricket, stating that it could inspire more women to pursue the sport globally.
“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," ICC chair Jay Shah said in a statement.
“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. 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 added.
The marquee tournament is slated to get underway from September 30. The tournament will open with a match between the two host nations, India and Sri Lanka. Australia, the defending champions, will be looking to retain their title after defeating England in the final of the 2021 World Cup in Christchurch.
Match Officials For Women’s World Cup 2025:
Umpires: 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
Match Referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira