International cricket gets first woman match referee

Published May 15, 2019
The 51-year-old GS Lakshmi (2nd from left), who first officiated as a match referee in domestic women’s cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women’s ODIs and three Twenty20s. ─ Photo courtesy BCCI/ESPNCricinfo
The 51-year-old GS Lakshmi (2nd from left), who first officiated as a match referee in domestic women’s cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women’s ODIs and three Twenty20s. ─ Photo courtesy BCCI/ESPNCricinfo

NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday named G.S. Lakshmi as the first woman on the international panel of match referees, making her eligible to take control of men’s games.

The 51-year-old Lakshmi, who first officiated as a match referee in domestic women’s cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women’s ODIs and three Twenty20s.

Her appointment came just after Australia’s Claire Polosak became the first woman umpire in a men’s ODI last month.

“To be selected in the international panel by the ICC is a huge honour for me as it opens up new avenues,” Lakshmi said in an ICC statement. “I have had a long career as a cricketer in India and also as a match referee.

“I hope to put my experience both as a player and as a match official to good use on the international circuit.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s Eloise Sheridan has joined Polosak on the ICC’s umpires development panel, taking the number of women on the body that provides umpires for all internationals to eight.

Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Shivani Mishra, Sue Redfern, Mary Waldron and Jacqueline Williams are the other women on the panel.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

The Peca problem
Updated 15 Feb, 2025

The Peca problem

The fight for fundamental freedoms is not the media’s alone, but one that concerns every citizen.
Miners in danger
15 Feb, 2025

Miners in danger

YESTERDAY’S devastating terrorist attack in Harnai, which killed at least 11 coal miners and injured seven others,...
Solar panels scam
15 Feb, 2025

Solar panels scam

THE scam involving over-invoicing to the tune of more than Rs69bn in the import of solar panels raises many ...
Dangerous times
Updated 14 Feb, 2025

Dangerous times

Pakistan accounted for six journalist killings in 2024, of which three were deliberately murdered, according to the CPJ.
Difficult target
14 Feb, 2025

Difficult target

A ONE-two punch delivered by an unforeseen, sharp dip in inflation and an extremely slim base of taxpayers is...
Amazing show
14 Feb, 2025

Amazing show

PAKISTAN’S ability to turn it up at the flick of a switch remains uninhibited. The latest show came in...