Sathira Zakir Jessy, who officiated at last year’s Women’s One Day International (ODI) World Cup in India, has once again been selected as an umpire, this time for the Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup in England. The tournament will commence on 12 June, featuring twelve of the world’s leading women’s cricket teams.
Jessy’s appointment reflects her rapid progression in international cricket officiating. A senior official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) umpires’ division stated, “Having an umpire represent Bangladesh on the global stage, alongside our national team, is a source of immense pride. Jessy has already gained experience officiating in high-pressure matches and has demonstrated remarkable growth. We expect her to perform even better in the T20 format than she did in the ODI World Cup.”
An ICC-certified umpire, Jessy officiated in eight matches during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Her duties included four matches as on-field umpire, two as television umpire, and two as fourth umpire. With the T20 World Cup approaching, she hopes to gain more on-field opportunities, further cementing her reputation in international cricket.
Jessy shared her excitement, saying, “Umpiring at a World Cup is an incredible privilege. Being part of consecutive World Cups is a source of personal pride. I hope that my performance will open doors for other female umpires. I have heard that the ICC plans to establish an elite women’s umpire panel, and performing well in major tournaments could put me in consideration for it.”
The T20 World Cup teams are divided into two groups:
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | West Indies |
| India | England |
| Pakistan | New Zealand |
| Australia | Sri Lanka |
| South Africa | Ireland |
| Netherlands | Scotland |
Group A will feature Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, and the Netherlands, while Group B will see West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Scotland compete.
Jessy’s back-to-back World Cup appointments highlight the growing recognition of women in cricket officiating. Her achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring female umpires in Bangladesh and across the world, demonstrating the opportunities available for those who excel on the international stage.
