In a significant move to enhance female representation in cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced an all-female panel of match officials, comprising ten umpires and three match referees for the highly anticipated ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 which is set to kick off on October 3 in the United Arab Emirates, with Bangladesh as the host nation.
This initiative underscores the ICC’s commitment to enhancing female representation in cricket officiating. Claire Polosak stands out as a prominent figure, set to umpire her fifth Women’s T20 World Cup. Joining her are Kim Cotton and Jacqueline Williams, both experienced officials who have returned for their fourth World Cup after having officiated the final in Cape Town earlier last year.
Additionally, Sue Redfern, who acted as the TV umpire during that final, is making her fourth tournament appearance, while Sarah Dambanevana from Zimbabwe is gearing up for her inaugural participation in this prestigious competition.
The match referees include GS Lakshmi, who first refereed in a T20I in 2012 and also officiated the final in 2023, along with Shandre Fritz and Michell Pereira, each returning for their second Women’s T20 World Cup.
Sean Easey, ICC’s Senior Manager for Umpires and Referees, expressed pride in this all-female lineup, noting that the officials were chosen based on their outstanding performances in recent international matches. He stated, “This group, selected as the most deserving umpires for this event following their recent form in bilateral and other cricket, are some of the very best from around the world. We are confident that they will do a great job at this event. I wish them the best of luck as they oversee the world’s top women’s cricketers in what will be an exciting tournament for all involved.”
The ICC is committed to developing international umpires through a robust performance program, which includes appointing Umpire Coaches and collaborating with officiating managers from Full Member Boards. This initiative aims to standardize practices, utilize specialists for data analysis and decision reviews, and regularly evaluate umpire performance both remotely and during assignments in Dubai.
The Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees includes Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira, while the panel of Umpires features Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Anna Harris, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, and Jacquiline Williams.
A total of ten teams will compete for the coveted trophy: Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Scotland. The tournament will commence with the opening match between Bangladesh and Scotland on October 3 and will conclude with the final on October 20.
(Quotes sourced from ICC media release)