Women's T20 World Cup 2026: ICC Unveils All Female Panel Across Venues In England

The ICC has confirmed an all-female panel of match officials for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales, continuing a trend from the last two editions. Fourteen umpires and four match referees will handle 33 matches from June 12, underlining growing depth in women's officiating.

This will be the third straight Women's T20 World Cup staffed only by women officials, highlighting continuity in the ICC’s approach. Nine members from the 2024 panel return for 2026, signalling ongoing trust in their performance while making space for new names in the international group.

ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: All-Female Panel

The officiating team features four debutants at Women's T20 World Cup level. Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, Kerrin Klaaste and Shathira Jakir Jesy will stand in the global event for the first time, joining experienced colleagues across venues in England and Wales through the tournament schedule.

Australian umpire Claire Polosak brings the most experience to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match officials roster. Polosak is preparing for a sixth Women's T20 World Cup and has already umpired 22 matches in previous editions. Jacqueline Williams and Kim Cotton will enter their fifth tournament, after 19 matches each.

ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: List Of Match Officials

The ICC International Panel of Umpires for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 includes 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, Jacqueline Williams and Gayathri Venugopalan, covering all 33 fixtures.

Match referees for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 all-female panel also show a blend of experience and fresh inclusion. Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi and Michell Pereira retain their roles from earlier events. New Zealand's Trudy Anderson joins them in the four-member referee group for this edition.

'Expanding The Scope...' ICC CEO Hails Gender Inclusivity Initiative

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta linked the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match officials announcement to wider goals on diversity. Gupta said, "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 to all facets of the sport."

Gupta explained that official appointments follow detailed review processes. "The ICC takes into consideration a comprehensive, holistic, and evidence-based account while assessing its sports officials and their decision-making performance." Gupta added, "We are delighted to see the progress made by these officials and the elevated standards of officiating they demonstrated during ICC CWC 2025."

Looking ahead to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales, Gupta said the event is projected to be "the biggest women's sporting event in the world". The tournament is expected to draw strong global attention, with the all-female panel central to delivering consistent decisions across the 33 scheduled games.

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 builds on growing worldwide interest in women's cricket and sustained investment in officials. With experienced umpires such as Claire Polosak alongside first-time tournament officials, the panel reflects both continuity and development as the competition aims for higher standards on and off the field.