ICC Reveals All-Female Match Officials Panel for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
The has officially announced the match officials panel for the , featuring an all-female team of umpires and match referees for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
The tournament, set to take place in England and Wales from June 12, will feature 14 umpires and four match referees overseeing 33 matches.
Four Officials Set for Women’s T20 World Cup Debut
Among the selected officials, four umpires will make their Women’s T20 World Cup debut this year:
– Candace La Borde
– Gayathri Venugopalan
– Kerrin Klaaste
– Shathira Jakir Jesy
The ICC said the appointments reflect its continued commitment to increasing representation and opportunities for women in international cricket officiating.
ICC Chief Executive praised the panel and highlighted the progress made by female officials in recent years.
“This panel reflects the ICC’s commitment to expanding representation across all aspects of the sport,” Gupta said in an official statement.
Experienced Officials Return for 2026 Tournament
Several experienced officials from previous editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup will also return for the 2026 event.
Australian umpire is set to make her sixth appearance at the tournament, making her the most experienced official in this year’s panel. She has previously officiated in 22 Women’s T20 World Cup matches.
Meanwhile, and will both reach the milestone of officiating in five Women’s T20 World Cups.
Match Referees Named for Tournament
The ICC also confirmed the four match referees selected for the competition:
– Shandré Fritz
– GS Lakshmi
– Michell Pereira
– Trudy Anderson
Three of the referees — Fritz, Lakshmi, and Pereira — were also part of the 2024 edition of the tournament.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Set for Major Global Spotlight
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to be one of the biggest events in women’s sports this year, with global audiences anticipated across England and Wales.
ICC officials said the selection of experienced and emerging match officials will help maintain high officiating standards throughout the tournament while continuing to support the growth of women’s cricket worldwide.
