The ICC has unveiled an all-female judging panel for the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup T20

ByTech Word News

Representative image (Image credit: ICC) The International Cricket Council has announced that it will have only female officials for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be the third consecutive edition of the tournament.The marquee tournament, due to start in England and Wales on June 12, will see 14 referees and four match officials oversee 33 matches across the competition.New inclusions include Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste and Shathira Jakir Jesy, all of whom are making their World Cup T20 debut this year.

Claire Polosak Kit for the Sixth Women’s World Cup T20

Veteran Australian umpire Claire Polosak will once again head the decision panel as she prepares to make her sixth appearance at the Women’s World T20 Cup.Polosak is the most experienced official in the group, having played in 22 matches at the tournament in previous years. Fellow referees Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton are also set to reach a major milestone, with both preparing for their fifth World Cup assignment after playing 19 matches each.Nine officials from the 2024 edition retained their places on the latest panel, underscoring continuity and consistency in delivering standards at the global event.The four-member judging panel includes returning officials Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi and Michell Pereira, while New Zealand’s Trudy Anderson joins the group for the 2026 edition.ICC emphasizes commitment to representationICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said the panel reflects the governing body’s commitment to increasing representation in all areas of the sport.“This panel of umpires for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup reflects the ICC’s commitment to expanding the scope of representation to all aspects of the sport,” Gupta said in a statement.“The ICC considers a comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based account when evaluating its sports officials and making decisions.“We are delighted to see the progress these officials have made and the increased standards of officiating they have 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 judging panel playing a key 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, with growing global interest in women’s cricket continuing to push 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 Referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira