The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced an all-female panel of match officials for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. This landmark decision marks the third consecutive edition of the tournament to feature an entirely female officiating team, underscoring cricket’s ongoing commitment to diversity and gender equality.
A total of 14 umpires and four match referees have been selected to manage the 33 highly anticipated matches. The tournament is scheduled to take place across various venue locations in England and Wales, kicking off on June 12.
The 2026 lineup introduces fresh talent alongside seasoned veterans. Four officials—Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste, and Shathira Jakir Jesy—have achieved a significant career milestone by earning their maiden World Cup appointments. Meanwhile, the roster prioritizes consistency by retaining nine key officials from the 2024 edition.
Australia’s Claire Polosak leads the panel as the most experienced umpire, preparing to step into her sixth consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup after having stood in 22 previous matches. She is well-supported by Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton, both making their fifth tournament appearances. The match referee panel is equally robust, featuring returning experts Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira, and New Zealand’s Trudy Anderson.
Announcing the appointments, ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta emphasized that the selection process was comprehensive, holistic, and entirely evidence-based. Gupta praised the elite officiating standards displayed during the previous Women’s Cricket World Cup and reiterated that the choice directly reflects the governing body’s core mission to maximize representation across all areas of global cricket.
