Bangladeshi Umpire Sathira Jakir Jesy To Make T20 World Cup Debut

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally confirmed that former Bangladeshi international cricketer Sathira Jakir Jesy will make her officiating debut at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Scheduled to commence on 12 June in England, the tournament marks a significant milestone for Jesy, who previously accumulated officiating experience at the global level during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in the One Day International (ODI) format.

Alongside Jesy, three other female umpires—Candace La Borde, Gayathri Venugopalan, and Kerin Klaaste—will also be making their tournament debuts at the premier T20 international event.

All-Female Match Officials Panel Maintained by the ICC

In alignment with its strategic framework to develop and promote female match officials, the ICC has maintained an all-female match officials panel for the third consecutive edition of the tournament. The governing body has structured a comprehensive team comprising 14 umpires and four match referees to oversee the entire tournament schedule.

Within the newly announced 14-umpire cohort, nine officials return with direct experience from overseeing fixtures during the 2024 edition of the tournament. Leading the collective in terms of historical tournament appearances is Australia’s Claire Polosak, who establishes herself as the most experienced official on the roster, having previously officiated 22 matches across six different editions of the tournament.

Comprehensive Roster of Appointed Emirates ICC Officials

The operational hierarchy for the event has been partitioned into the specialized Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires and the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, drawing professionals from multiple member nations.

The inclusion of Jesy in this elite panel highlights her steady progression through the international umpiring pathways, transitioning from a notable domestic playing career to top-tier international officiating. The appointment ensures representation from Bangladesh within the technical committee of the tournament as the teams compete in England.

Administrative Preparation and Tournament Logistics

The selection of these 18 match officials follows rigorous performance evaluations conducted by the ICC Umpires Selection Committee. The tournament structure demands that these officials manage highly competitive fixtures under intense international scrutiny. By retaining nine experienced umpires alongside the four debutants, the ICC aims to achieve an optimal balance of seasoned match management and the development of new refereeing talent.

The match referees—Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira—will hold ultimate disciplinary and administrative authority over the fixtures, ensuring compliance with the ICC Code of Conduct. The entire group of 14 umpires will rotate responsibilities, serving as on-field umpires, TV umpires, and fourth officials across the multi-week tournament, which serves as the pinnacle of the shortest format in international women’s cricket.