The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named an all-women match-official group for the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, a landmark that will be the third straight edition where women officials take charge of the event. The tournament is set to kick off in England and Wales on June 12, with 14 umpires and four match referees appointed to manage 33 matches throughout the competition.
Several officials have earned their first opportunity at this level, including Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste and Shathira Jakir Jesy. All four are scheduled to make their debut in Women’s T20 World Cup officiating duties this year.
Claire Polosak set for sixth Women’s T20 World Cup
Australian umpire Claire Polosak will once again lead the officiating line-up as she prepares for her sixth Women’s T20 World Cup appearance. Polosak is the most experienced member of the group, having already taken part in 22 matches at the tournament across earlier editions.
Other senior officials are also approaching a significant career milestone. Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton are both set to feature in their fifth Women’s T20 World Cup assignments, with each having officiated in 19 matches so far.
Nine officials who worked during the 2024 edition have retained their roles for the 2026 panel, underscoring continuity and consistent standards in global event officiating.
Referees: mix of returning and new faces
The match-referee group comprises four names, including returning officials Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi and Michell Pereira. Trudy Anderson, representing New Zealand, has been added to the referee panel for the 2026 tournament.
ICC underscores commitment to representation
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said the selection reflects the governing body’s ongoing efforts to broaden representation across the sport. He described the panel as an expression of the ICC’s commitment to extending participation to every part of cricket.
Gupta also noted that the ICC evaluates officials using a thorough, holistic and evidence-based approach, including how they perform and make decisions during competition. He added that it was encouraging to see the progress shown by the officials and the higher officiating standards they displayed at ICC CWC 2025.
He further suggested that the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup is expected to become “the biggest women’s sporting event in the world”, with the match officials playing an important role in keeping elite standards across the tournament.
With women’s cricket drawing increasing attention worldwide, the 2026 edition in England and Wales is widely anticipated to rank among the largest in the tournament’s history.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Officials
ICC International Panel of Umpires
- 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
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