In a landmark development for women’s cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has named the panel of match officials for the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2025. The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30, is set to make history as the first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup to be officiated exclusively by women.
Historic all-female panel of officials for Women’s World Cup 2025
ICC has taken a historic step ahead of the Women’s World Cup 2025 by announcing an all-female panel of match officials for the tournament. The mega event will witness women exclusively officiating matches for the first time in the history of a Women’s ODI World Cup.
While previous global events like the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the last two Women’s T20 World Cups had already featured all-female officiating panels, this will be a landmark moment for the 50-over format. The move highlights ICC’s commitment towards empowering women in cricket and providing greater visibility to female match officials on the global stage.
The decision marks a significant milestone as women continue to break barriers in the sport, both on and off the field. By appointing only women in officiating roles, ICC has not only recognized the growing pool of talented female umpires and referees but also underlined its intent to bring parity in opportunities.
Experienced campaigners lead the way
Among the umpires, several familiar faces stand out. Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern bring vast international experience and have previously officiated in men’s and women’s matches across formats. They will be joined by Lauren Agenbag of South Africa and New Zealand’s Kim Cotton, both officiating in their second Women’s World Cup.
The panel also includes promising names like Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Janani N, Vrinda Rathi, and Eloise Sheridan—officials who have made their mark in international cricket in recent years. Their presence represents the growing diversity within the women’s officiating community.
Also READ: Sri Lanka announces Chamari Athapaththu-led strong 15-member squad for Women’s World Cup 2025
Complete list of match officials for Women’s 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
Also READ: New Zealand unveil squad for Women’s World Cup 2025, Sophie Devine to lead
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
