ICC Women's World Cup 2025 To Make History With All-Women Officiating Panel

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 will, for the first time in the tournament’s history, feature an all-female panel of umpires and referees. The 13th edition of the event, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30, will mark a significant step forward in the commitment to equity and inclusion in sports. 

While all-female panels have previously officiated at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the last two ICC Women’s T20 World Cups, this milestone represents a first for the Women’s World Cup.

All-women panel details

The panel comprises 14 umpires and four referees. Umpires Claire Polosak, Jacquline Williams, and Sue Redfern will be standing in their third Women’s World Cup, while Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton, who officiated in the 2022 final, return for their second. The referee panel includes Trudy Anderson, Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michelle Pereira, who bring diverse experience to the tournament.

A world-class panel of 14 umpires and four match referees to officiate at #CWC25 starting September 30.

Details 👇https://t.co/qbxgd0qVAI

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) September 11, 2025

ICC Chairman Jay Shah announced the news in a statement, describing it as "not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s commitment to advancing gender equity in cricket." He added, "This development goes beyond symbolic value; it is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of trailblazers who can inspire future generations.”

The announcement reportedly underscores the ICC’s broader strategy to expand opportunities for women within all areas of cricket. By positioning women in key officiating roles on the global stage, the ICC aims to strengthen pathways, increase representation, and demonstrate that leadership in cricket knows no gender.

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, jointly hosted by Indiaand Sri Lanka, will open on 30 September, with the final scheduled later in the tournament. With an all-female panel of officials overseeing every match, the event is set to inspire athletes, administrators, and fans alike while setting new standards for equity within the sport.