All-Female Panel to Officiate Women’s World Cup in Landmark First

The Women’s Cricket World Cup this year will see a complete all-female panel of umpires and referees for the first time, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced.

The tournament begins September 30 in India and Sri Lanka and will feature 14 umpires, including Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, Sue Redfern, Lauren Agenbag, and Kim Cotton. Polosak, Williams, and Redfern will be officiating in their third World Cup, while Agenbag and Cotton will appear for the second time.

The four match referees named are Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira. The ICC said the group would “bring strong experience and credibility to the game.”

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ICC chair Jay Shah described the development as a “powerful reflection of the ICC’s commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.” He added that it was not only symbolic but also about creating opportunities and role models.

The milestone comes alongside another major announcement: prize money for the event will rise by nearly 300 per cent, with a total pool of $13.88m. The ICC said the increase highlights its dedication to narrowing the gap between men’s and women’s cricket.