ICC Unveil First-Ever All-Female Officiating Line-Up For Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

The ICC has announced a historic, all-female line-up of match officials for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2. The tournament opens with India vs Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30. The ICC said this move is not symbolic—it is about visibility, opportunity, and creating role models for future generations.

What The ICC Announced

• The entire officiating group for the tournament consists of women—four match referees and 14 umpires.

• The opening game in Guwahati will be overseen on-field by Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan.

• Indian officials Vrinda Rathi, N Janani (Janani Narayanan), and Gayathri Venugopalan are part of the umpiring panel.

• GS Lakshmi, the first-ever woman match referee in ICC events, is one of the four referees on duty.

• Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams, and Sue Redfern will be officiating at their third Women’s World Cup; Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton will be at their second.

Why This Is A Big Step

The ICC has framed this as a structural shift rather than a token gesture. With a full slate of women officials, the World Cup will showcase the depth and quality of female match officials across countries. It helps normalize women leading elite cricket contests, accelerates pathways for new officials, and sets a standard for future global events. Greater visibility can also inspire more women to take up umpiring and referee roles at all levels.

“The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket. This development goes beyond symbolic value. It is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models who can inspire future generations.”

Match Officials For CWC 2025

Match Referees

• Trudy Anderson

• Shandré Fritz

• GS Lakshmi

• Michelle (Michell) Pereira

Umpires

• Lauren Agenbag

• Candace la Borde

• Kim Cotton

• Sarah Dambanevana

• Shathira Jakir Jesy

• Kerrin Klaaste

• Janani Narayanan (N Janani)

• Nimali Perera

• Claire Polosak

• Vrinda Rathi

• Sue Redfern

• Eloise Sheridan

• Gayathri Venugopalan

• Jacqueline Williams

Opening Match Officiating Snapshot

• Fixture: India vs Sri Lanka, September 30, Guwahati

• On-field: Claire Polosak, Eloise Sheridan

• TV Umpire: Likely rotation includes senior names like Kim Cotton during the league phase

• Match Referee: From the appointed panel (Shandré Fritz has been listed for key early fixtures in similar announcements)

Tournament Basics

• Dates: September 30 to November 2

• Hosts: India and Sri Lanka

• Teams: Eight

• Venues: Five, including Colombo and multiple Indian venues (such as Guwahati and Visakhapatnam)

• Knockout appointments: Semi-final and final match officials will be confirmed closer to those matches

Why It Helps The Cricket Too

Beyond representation, a high-quality, experienced officiating group benefits the cricket: consistent decision-making, calibrated use of technology, steady in-game management, and clear communication with captains. Officials like Polosak, Redfern, Williams, Agenbag, and Cotton have stood in high-pressure finals and big stages before, which strengthens the tournament’s integrity and flow.

What To Watch

• How the panel manages over-rates and fielding positions in the heat and humidity across venues.

• Consistency around wides, short balls, and DRS patterns in subcontinental conditions.

• The continued development of emerging umpires alongside the more experienced names.