Jacqueline Williams of the West Indies became the first woman to officiate as the third umpire in a men’s international game as she took the field in the first match of Ireland vs West Indies T20 series in Grenada on Wednesday.
History Created: Jacqueline Williams becomes first female third umpire to oversee a men’s international game Click To Tweet
Expressing her elation on the occasion, earlier she was quoted as saying, “this is a matter of huge honor 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.”
Adrian Griffith, ICC senior manager of umpires and referees remarked “Jacqueline is another of our women officials who have come through the system with hard work and determination. I am confident she will do a good job and I wish her all the best for the upcoming series.
Earlier GS Lakshmi, an Indian umpire had become the first woman match referee in a men’s ODI game. She oversaw the third series of the Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in the United Arab Emirates in December 2019. Whereas Kathy Cross is the first woman official to stand in a men’s ICC tournament during the World Cricket League Division Five and Three held in Malaysia.
