In a landmark decision for the sport, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 will be officiated by an all-female panel of match officials. This move marks the first time in the history of the Women’s Cricket World Cup that every on-field umpire and match referee will be a woman. While all-female panels have been used at events like the Commonwealth Games and Women’s T20 World Cups, this represents a significant first for the premier 50-over tournament.
The historic panel will consist of 14 umpires and four match referees, featuring several highly experienced officials. Umpires Claire Polosak, Jacquline Williams, and Sue Redfern will be officiating at their third Women’s World Cup, while Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton return for their second appearance after overseeing the 2022 final. They will be joined by a match referee panel comprising Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michelle Pereira for the tournament, which is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailed the announcement as a “defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket.” He stated that the decision is a powerful reflection of the ICC’s “unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.” The move is designed not just as a symbolic gesture but as a concrete step to increase the visibility of women in officiating roles and create meaningful career pathways within the sport.
The ICC expressed hope that this initiative will serve to inspire future generations, creating powerful role models and motivating more women around the world to consider officiating as a viable career path. By placing women in every leadership position on the field, the governing body aims to redefine leadership in cricket and contribute to the continued growth and professionalization of the women’s game on a global scale.
