The International Cricket Council has announced an all-female panel of match officials for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, marking the third consecutive edition of the tournament that will feature all-female umpires.The main tournament, scheduled to begin in England and Wales from June 12, will feature 14 referees and four referees overseeing 33 matches across the competition.New additions include Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste and Shathira Jakir Jesy, all of whom will make their debut as referees in the Women’s T20 World Cup this year.
Claire Polosak ready for sixth Women’s T20 World Cup
Veteran Australian umpire Claire Polosak will once again lead the referee panel as she prepares for her sixth appearance in the Women’s T20 World Cup.Polosak is the most experienced referee in the group, having played 22 matches in the tournament in previous editions. Fellow referees Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton will also reach an important milestone, as they both prepare for their fifth World Cup assignment after refereeing in 19 matches each.Nine referees from the 2024 edition have retained their places on the latest panel, highlighting the continuity and consistency in refereeing standards at the global event.The four-member referee panel includes referees Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi and Michell Pereira, while New Zealander Trudy Anderson joins the group for the 2026 edition.ICC highlights commitment to representationICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said the panel reflected the governing body’s commitment to increasing representation in all areas of the sport.“This panel of match referees for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 reflects the ICC’s commitment to expanding the scope of representation to all facets of the sport,” Gupta said in a statement.“The ICC takes into consideration a comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based report when evaluating its sports officials and their decision-making performance.“We are delighted to see the progress made by these officials and the high standards of officiating they demonstrated during ICC CWC 2025.”Gupta further added that the tournament is expected to become “the biggest women’s sporting event in the world”, with the panel of referees playing a crucial role in maintaining elite standards throughout the competition.The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales is expected to be one of the biggest editions in the tournament’s history, and growing global interest in women’s cricket continues to propel the sport into new territories.ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Officials:
- ICC International Panel of Referees: Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Anna Harris, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaaste, Candace La Borde, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Suzanne Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Jacquline Williams, Gayathri Venugopalan
- ICC International Panel of Match Referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira
