Umpires Kerrin Klaaste and Vrinda Rathi photographed during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025. Archive | Photo credit: ICC via Getty Images
Four Indian umpires, including match referee GS Lakshmi, have been named in the list of 18 all-female ICC match officials who will oversee the Women’s T20 World Cup starting on June 12 in England and Wales.
It will be the third consecutive edition of the showpiece to feature an all-female panel, with Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste and Shathira Jakir Jesy scheduled to make their debut at the tournament.
Vrinda Rathi and Janani N. are the other two Indians on the list of umpires.
“This panel of referees for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 reflects the ICC’s commitment to expanding the reach of representation to all facets of the sport,” ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said in a press release.
“The ICC takes into consideration a comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based analysis when evaluating its sports officials and their decision-making performance,” he added.
There are 14 referees and four match officials who will be used in all 33 World Cup matches, with nine members of the match referee team from the 2024 edition returning for the next event.
Also read: ICC announces full schedule for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Australian official Claire Polosak is the most experienced as she prepares for her sixth appearance in the tournament having previously officiated 22 matches, while Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton, who have overseen 19 matches each at this stage, will reach the milestone of five T20 World Cups in England and Wales.
The match referees will feature three returning referees, Shandrr Fritz, Lakshmi and Michell Pereira, who were also part of the 2024 edition. The group of four referees will be completed by Trudy Anderson of New Zealand.
India will open their World Cup campaign against Pakistan on June 14.
Read more : Team India in good shape for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Smriti Mandhana
Match Officials Panel:
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
Match referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira.
Published – May 28, 2026 04:58 pm IST