ICC Announces All-Female Match Officials Panel for Women's T20 World Cup 2026 The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the list of match officials for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, marking the third consecutive edition of the tournament to feature exclusively female umpires and referees. The event, set to take place in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, will see 14 umpires and four match referees overseeing 33 matches. This decision underscores the ICC’s commitment to advancing women’s roles in cricket, emphasizing their growing presence in the sport. The panel includes a mix of experienced and emerging officials, with several returning from previous editions. Notably, GS Lakshmi, the first woman to be appointed as an ICC match referee in 2019, will serve as a match referee for the tournament. She will be making her sixth appearance in an ICC women’s tournament. Other returning officials include Shandri Friz, Michelle Perera, and Trudi Anderson, who will make her debut as a match referee. The panel also features Janani N, Vrinda Rathore, and Gayathri Venugopal from India, with Gayathri set to make her debut in the World Cup. The ICC’s CEO, Sanjay Gupta, highlighted the panel’s selection, stating that it reflects the organization’s dedication to empowering women in cricket. The officials were chosen based on their performance, decision-making abilities, and consistent high standards. The tournament is expected to be a landmark event for women’s cricket, showcasing the sport’s global growth and the increasing recognition of female athletes and officials. Among the umpires, Claire Polosak from Australia will serve as the most experienced, marking her sixth appearance in a Women’s T20 World Cup. She will be joined by seasoned officials like Jackie Williams and Kim Cotton.#icc #sanjay_gupta #women_s_t20_world_cup_2026 #gs_lakshmi #claire_polosak
