The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a historic milestone for the sport: an all-female Emirates ICC Panel of Match Officials will officiate the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, marking the first time in tournament history that the event will be overseen entirely by women.
This groundbreaking decision aligns with the ICC’s long-term commitment to advancing gender equity across the game. It also represents the fourth global cricket event to feature an all-women officiating panel, following the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the last two ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.
Strategic push for gender equity in cricket officiating
The 13th edition of the Women’s Cricket World Cup will be hosted in India from 30 September to 2 November 2025, featuring 31 matches across 33 days and showcasing eight of the world’s top teams. For the first time, the game’s most prestigious women’s tournament will also spotlight an all-female panel of 14 umpires and four match referees, each with significant international credentials.
Among the experienced umpires are Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, Sue Redfern, and Kim Cotton—all veterans of multiple World Cups. The referee panel includes trailblazers such as GS Lakshmi and Shandré Fritz, who have been instrumental in building pathways for women in elite officiating roles.
Leadership insight: Jay Shah on visibility and opportunity
ICC Chairman Jay Shah called the announcement a defining moment in women’s cricket:
“This marks a defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket. The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.
“This goes beyond symbolic value—it is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models. We believe the influence of this initiative will resonate far beyond this tournament, motivating more women to pursue officiating careers and helping redefine what’s possible in the game.”
High-performance systems driving officiating excellence
This appointment also highlights the ICC’s investment in its High Performance Officiating Programme, which provides female match officials with world-class support—including dedicated umpire coaches, performance tracking tools, and data-driven analysis. Match officials benefit from regular performance reviews, both virtually and in-person at the ICC’s Dubai headquarters.
According to the ICC, this all-female panel is not only a tribute to excellence but a sign of what’s ahead for the professionalization of the women’s game at all levels.
Full Emirates ICC Panel of Match Officials – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Match Referees
- Trudy Anderson
- Shandré Fritz
- GS Lakshmi
- Michelle Pereira
Umpires
- Lauren Agenbag
- Candace la Borde
- Kim Cotton
- Sarah Dambanevana
- Shathira Jakir Jesy
- Kerrin Klaaste
- Janani N
- Nimali Perera
- Claire Polosak
- Vrinda Rathi
- Sue Redfern
- Eloise Sheridan
- Gayathri Venugopalan
- Jacquline Williams
With the world’s eyes on India for the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, this landmark moment not only reflects the progress of the women’s game but also sets the stage for a new generation of leaders in international cricket officiating.
