Cricket has been one of the most significant platforms that enabled female evolution and development. There’s nothing a women can’t achieve and they have proved it every single time. Justifying the same, West Indian Jacqueline Williams is set to become the first woman to officiate as the third umpire in men’s international cricket, commencing from the 3 match T20 series against the visiting Ireland.
“This is a matter of huge honour for me and I am really excited at the prospect of my role as TV umpire in a men’s international match. I have officiated as a third umpire in men’s matches before, but this is for the first time in an international and that too featuring the West Indies,” Jacqueline said in an ICC statement.
Breaking the stereotype – Jamaican Jacqueline Williams becomes the first woman third umpire in Men’s international match Click To Tweet and wish that more women take up umpiring in the coming years. Umpiring is a challenging job but one from which I derive utmost satisfaction,” she added.
Many females have lead the way in umpiring in men’s matches, like Williams became the first woman to officiate as third umpire in an ICC men’s tournament in 2016 when she overtook the field in the match- Oman versus Nigeria at the World Cricket League Division Five in Jersey.
Retired umpire Kathy Cross of New Zealand was the first woman official to stand in a men’s ICC tournament during the World Cricket League Division Five and Three held in Malaysia.
Last month, India’s GS Lakshmi took the responsibility in the third series of the Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in the United Arab Emirates, opening the slot as the first woman match referee in men’s ODIs. Last year in May, she became the first woman to be appointed in the ICC International Panel of Match Referees.
In April last year, Australia’s Claire Polosak became the first female umpire to stand in a men’s ODI, in the World Cricket League Division 2 match between Namibia and Oman in Windhoek, Namibia.
These women are the example that Cricket isn’t a contest between genders but a contest of the spirit. Everyone is equal when it comes to cricket or a game in general and our females are proving their worth to challenge this mentality.
Source: T.O.I
A student who is passionate about cricket enjoys writing and follows sports in general.