Women will take full charge of officiating duties at the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup, marking a historic first for the sport.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Thursday that 14 umpires and four referees, all female, will oversee matches in the 13th edition of the World Cup starting September 30 in India and Sri Lanka.
Among the officials are seasoned campaigners Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern, each making their third World Cup appearance. Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton will also return for their second. The referees’ line-up includes Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira.
ICC Chair Jay Shah hailed the move as a “defining moment” for women’s cricket. “This development is about more than symbolism — it’s about visibility and creating leaders who can inspire future generations,” he said.
The ICC has also raised the stakes financially. The prize fund will total $13.88m, a 297 per cent jump from the $3.5m awarded in 2022. The governing body called the increase a step towards greater parity between men’s and women’s cricket.