The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently announced a landmark moment in the history of the sport: an all-female Emirates ICC Panel of Match Officials will oversee the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
This create the first time in tournament history that a Women’s Cricket World Cup will be officiated entirely by women, a feat made possible by the ICC’s work across many years to sustenance, elevate and empower women in cricket.
This accomplishment is another milestone for the ICC’s broader strategic vision to accelerate the growth of women’s cricket.
It marks the fourth global tournament to feature an all-female panel of match officials, subsequent the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.
The 13th edition of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, held by India, will feature 31 matches over 33 days, with eight teams vying for global glory.
A total of 14 umpires and four match referees – each carrying significant international experience – have been selected to represent the Emirates ICC Panel during the event.
The officiating team consist of highly experienced umpires such as Claire Polosak, Jacquline Williams, and Sue Redfern – all of whom are making their third Women’s Cricket World Cup appearance.
Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton, who stood as on-field umpires in the 2022 final when Australia secured their seventh title, return alongside fellow 2022 official Eloise Sheridan.
The match referee panel includes respected figures Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, G.S. Lakshmi, and Michelle Pereira – each continuing to pave the way for women in officiating roles at the highest level of the game.
ICC Chairperson Jay Shah believed that this historic moment in women’s cricket will lead to many more success stories across every spectrum of the sport.
Emirates ICC Panel of Match Officials – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup ’25
Match referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, G.S. 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
The ICC remains deeply committed to supporting the development and excellence of international match officials through its High Performance Officiating Programme.
This includes access to ICC umpire coaches, collaboration with full member board officiating managers, performance tracking via fulltime data and video analysts, and regular reviews – both virtually and in person at ICC headquarters in Dubai.
This all-female panel stands as a testament to the progress and professionalism driving the women’s game forward.
As the world turns its eyes to India in 2025, this historic moment will inspire the next generation of cricket officials and champions alike.
Sinhala 
English