In a historic move, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday, September 11, an all-female group of umpires for the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. The showpiece event co-hosted by India & Sri Lanka will kick off on September 30 onward. Four Indian umpires are among the panel that features 14 umpires.
By naming an all-female panel, the ICC has unlocked another milestone in trying to shape and broaden women's cricket. This marks the fourth instance in a global tournament to feature all-female match officials after the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cups. The 13th edition of CWC 2025 will see 31 games being played over 33 days, with eight teams eyeing the ultimate prize.
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The officiating team includes highly prominent umpires such as Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern – all of whom are making their third Women’s Cricket World Cup appearance. Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton, who stood as on-field umpires in the 2022 final when Australia secured their seventh title, return alongside fellow 2022 official Eloise Sheridan.
The match referee panel includes respected figures Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira – each continuing to pave the way for women in officiating roles at the highest level of the game.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah believes this historic moment in women's cricket will lead to many more successes across sports
ICC Chairman Jay Shah feels this historic all-female umpires in the World Cup will lead to several success stories across every spectrum of the sport.
“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.
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“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 honored to recognize 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.”
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Emirates ICC Panel of Match Officials – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Match Referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira
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
