DUBAI: In a significant first for world cricket, the International Cricket Council on Friday announced an all-female panel of match officials, including the Indian trio of GS Lakshmi, Vrinda Rathi and Janani Narayanan, for the forthcoming Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa.
3 match referees and 10 umpires make up the 13-woman team in what is a landmark moment and is the part of the ICC’s strategic ambition of advancing the involvement and visibility of women in cricket.
Rathi and Janani, who became the first female umpires to serve in the prestigious Ranji Trophy earlier this month, will be umpiring at a T20 World Cup for the first time.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager - Cricket, stated, "Women's cricket has grown fast in recent years, and as part of that, we have been establishing routes to ensure more women have the opportunity to officiate at the highest level.
"This news is a reflection of our intent in this space and just the start of our journey where men and women enjoy the same possibilities across our sport. We are dedicated to continue to encourage our female match officials and providing opportunities for them to display their abilities on a worldwide scale." The Women's T20 World Cup 2020 and the Women's Cricket World Cup last year each included eight female officials, while the ongoing ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa has nine female officials.
Claire Polosak, the most experienced of the umpires, was chosen because she has officiated in every Women's World Cup, T20, and ODI since 2016.
The 34-year-old Australian will be refereeing in her fourth T20 World Cup, while England's Sue Redfern, West Indies' Jacqueline Williams, and New Zealand's Kim Cotton will be officiating in their third Women's T20 World Cups. Lauren Agenbag will have the opportunity to umpire at a World Cup on home soil after being selected for her second T20 World Cup, with match referee Shandre Fritz overseeing games in her native country for her debut T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Michell Pereira of Sri Lanka will captain her maiden T20I at the 2023 World Cup, which begins on February 10 with a match against hosts South Africa and Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
At only 24 years old, England's Anna Harris is the youngest of the umpires, making her debut at a major ICC event.
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