India’s Lakshmi among officials named for Women’s WC final in historic first

It will be a historic ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 final in Christchurch on Sunday (April 3) as the match at Hagley Oval will be officiated by four women match officials – the first such instance in global cricket history.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced this on Friday, April 1. An Indian will be part of this momentous occasion in New Zealand as Australia and England battle it out for the trophy.

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England is the defending champion, having won the trophy in 2017 by defeating India in the final. Australia is the most successful team with six titles (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013).

Australia and England dominate the list of previous Women’s World Cup winners. 🙌

Which team will take home the #CWC22 trophy when they meet in The Final on Sunday? pic.twitter.com/YsJK0o3gGM

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) April 1, 2022

South Africa’s Lauren Agenbag and Kim Cotton of New Zealand have been named the two on-field umpires for the final while West Indies’ Jacqueline Williams will officiate as the TV umpire.

India’s GS Lakshmi, the first woman ever in the ICC international panel of match referees, will be the match referee for the final. Lakshmi also has the distinction of being the first woman match referee in men’s ODIs, having stood in the role during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in the UAE in December 2020.

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Cotton was the only match official during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), having stood as the on-field umpire alongside Ahsan Raza.

Williams, who hails from Jamaica, became the first female to officiate as the Third Umpire in men’s international cricket in 2020, having fulfilled the role during West Indies’ three-match home T20I series against Ireland. Langton Rusere of Zimbabwe has been named the Fourth Umpire.

As part of its strategic commitment to a gender-equitable sport, the ICC has focused on increasing the number of international female match officials, with women comprising eight of the 15 match officials at this event, the global governing body for cricket said.