Image Source: ICC Web
Women's T20 World Cup is going to start next month. 10 teams including India are participating in this tournament to be held in South Africa. ICC is leaving no stone unturned to make this tournament a super hit. Now the council has also announced the match officials for the tournament. For the first time, the ICC has announced only female referees and umpires for any of its tournaments. Only women referees and umpires will be seen in the Women's T20 World Cup. This is an important step taken by ICC toward women's empowerment.
The panel of referees and umpires also includes three names from India. The Women's T20 World Cup will also see the Indian trio of GS Lakshmi, Vrinda Rathi and Janani Narayanan. The ICC panel has a total of 13 women officials including three match referees and 10 umpires. The ICC said this is a historic moment and forms part of the ICC's strategic ambition to advance the participation and visibility of women in cricket.
Seven women officials have been included in the ICC panel for the first time. India's Rathi and Janani, who earlier this month became the first women umpires to officiate in the prestigious Ranji Trophy, will officiate in a T20 World Cup for the first time.
ICC General Manager Wasim Khan said: “Women's cricket has been growing rapidly in recent years and as part of this we are creating ways to ensure more women have the opportunity to officiate at the highest level. We are committed to continuing to support women match officials and provide them with opportunities to showcase their talents on the global stage.
Eight women officials were also included in the Women's T20 World Cup 2020 and last year's Women's ODI Cricket World Cup. At the same time, nine women officials have been included in the ongoing ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa.
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Claire Polosak is the most experienced of the umpires as she continues her record of officiating in every Women's World Cup, T20 and ODI since 2016. The 34-year-old Australian will officiate in her fourth T20 World Cup, while England's Sue Redfearn, West Indies' Jacqueline Williams and New Zealand's Kim Cotton will be in their third Women's T20 World Cup.
Image Source: BCCI
Lauren Agenbag will get a chance to officiate in the World Cup on home soil. This South African umpire will be attending her second T20 World Cup. This will be the debut T20 World Cup for match referee Shandre Fritz. England's 24-year-old Anna Harris is the youngest official among the umpires and this will be her debut ICC tournament.
The Women's T20 World Cup is going to start from 10 February. South Africa will face Sri Lanka in the first match. At the same time, the Indian team will start its campaign on 12 February. His first match is against Pakistan in Cape Town. The final match will be played on February 26 in Cape Town itself.
Match referees, GS Lakshmi (India), Shandre Fritz (SA), Mitchell Pereira (SL).
Umpire, Sue Redfern (England), Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Claire Polosak (Australia), Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Lauren Agenbag (South Africa), Anna Harris (England), Vrinda Rathi (India), N Janani (India), Nimali Perera (Sri Lanka).
Also Read: Women IPL 2023: WIPL teams list all you need to know
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