A fresh lineup of referees has been confirmed by the International Cricket Council for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. This time, women will handle every on-field decision once again, just like they did in the last two versions. The choice continues a quiet shift, one game at a time.

Starting June 12, matches spread through England and Wales will run with 14 umpires plus four match referees handling 33 fixtures. This move shows how the ICC keeps pushing to bring more women into every part of cricket.

Four officials set for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup debut

Launched into the spotlight this year: Candace La Borde steps in, followed by Gayathri Venugopalan, then Kerrin Klaaste, along with Shathira Jakir Jesy, all facing their first Women’s T20 World Cup as officials.

Still standing tall among the crew, Claire Polosak brings more time on the field than anyone else here. Her sixth trip to the Women’s T20 World Cup looms ahead. Through past rounds of this event, she has handled calls in twenty-two games already.

Officiating duties call them back – Jacqueline Williams and Kim Cotton step into their fifth Women’s T20 World Cup, each with nineteen prior match experiences under their belts.

Names you might recognize show up again on the match referee panel. Back from duties in 2024 are Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira. Rounding out the group of four is Trudy Anderson from New Zealand. Not new faces only, some have been here before.

Out front, ICC chief Sanjog Gupta welcomed the new picks, pointing out how seriously the group takes fair inclusion among match referees.

“This panel of match officials for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 reflects the ICC’s commitment to expanding the scope of representation across all facets of the sport,” Gupta said.

“The ICC takes into consideration a comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based assessment while evaluating sports officials and their decision-making performance. We are delighted to see the progress made by these officials and the elevated standards of officiating they demonstrated during ICC events.”

“As we prepare to deliver what will be the biggest women’s sporting event in the world, this selection will further elevate the significance associated with the tournament,” he added.

Among those stepping into the umpire roles at the event are:
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, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira.