Four Indian officials, including match referee GS Lakshmi, have been named in the 18-strong, all-female lineup of ICC match officials selected to oversee the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2026. The highly anticipated tournament is scheduled to begin on June 12 across England and Wales. Alongside Lakshmi, the Indian contingent is well-represented on the field, with Vrinda Rathi and Janani N both securing spots on the elite umpires' list.
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Vrinda Rathi, GS Lakshmi, Janani N, GS Lakshmi headline Women's T20 WC panel of match officials
This selection marks the third consecutive edition of the global showpiece to feature an entirely female officiating panel, highlighting the ICC's continued commitment to diversity in the game. The tournament will also usher in a new wave of officiating talent, as Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste, and Shathira Jakir Jesy are all slated to make their tournament debuts on the world stage.
"This panel of match officials for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 reflects the ICC's commitment to expanding the scope of representation to all facets of the sport," ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said in a press release.
"The ICC takes into consideration a comprehensive, holistic, and evidence-based account while assessing its sports officials and their decision-making performance," he added.
A total of 14 umpires and four match referees have been selected to officiate the 33 fixtures at the upcoming World Cup, bringing a strong blend of continuity and seasoned expertise to the tournament. Highlighting this stability, nine members of the officiating crew from the 2024 edition will be returning to take charge of the action once again.
Among the umpires, Australia's Claire Polosak stands out as the most experienced official, preparing for her sixth consecutive appearance at the tournament after previously officiating 22 matches. Joining her in reaching significant milestones are West Indies' Jacqueline Williams and New Zealand's Kim Cotton; both have overseen 19 matches on this global stage and will be celebrating their fifth T20 World Cup appearance in England and Wales.
The match referee panel is equally experienced, featuring three returning officials from the 2024 edition: Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira. Rounding out this expert group of four is New Zealand's Trudy Anderson, who will bring her extensive technical knowledge to the tournament's disciplinary and oversight team.
With the official panels now locked in, the participating nations are finalizing their match-day strategies. Cricket fans won't have to wait long for high-stakes action, as India is scheduled to kick off its World Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14.
Panel of Match Officials for Women's T20 World Cup 2026:
Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Anna Harris, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaaste, Candace La Borde, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Suzanne Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Jacquline Williams, Gayathri Venugopalan
Match Referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira