For the first time in history, the upcoming 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will feature an all-female panel of match referees and umpires.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the landmark decision, confirming a 14-member umpiring team, which includes Sri Lanka’s Nimali Perera, alongside a 4-member match referee panel featuring Michelle Pereira from Sri Lanka.
Women officials have previously served in global tournaments, including the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the last Women’s T20 World Cup.
However, this will be the first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup where every official — both referees and umpires — are female, marking a significant milestone in cricket history