In a landmark move for gender equity in cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 will feature an all-female panel of match officials for the first time in the tournament’s history.
The panel includes 14 umpires and 4 match referees, all of whom bring diverse experience to the global stage. Among the umpires are Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern—each making their third World Cup appearance—alongside Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton, who officiated the 2022 final in New Zealand. The match referee team features Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira.
While previous events such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games and recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cups have showcased all-female officiating teams, this marks the first time the Women’s World Cup itself will be led entirely by women in match official roles.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah called the announcement a “defining moment” for women’s cricket, emphasizing its importance beyond symbolism. “This is about visibility, opportunity, and creating meaningful role models who can inspire future generations,” he said. Shah added that the initiative reflects the ICC’s commitment to advancing gender equity and hopes it will encourage more women to pursue careers in officiating.
The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be held in India and Sri Lanka starting September 30, 2025.