NL Corresspondent
In a groundbreaking development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has selected seven female neutral umpires for the upcoming ICC Women's Championship series, ensuring they receive match-day pay on par with their counterparts on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. Sue Redfern is poised to make history as the inaugural ICC-appointed female neutral umpire, presiding over the bilateral series between Australia and South Africa, encompassing the ICC Women's Championship and T20I encounters.
The initiative to designate one neutral umpire for all ICC Women's Championship series and associated T20I matches aims to introduce impartiality while nurturing the long-term progress of female umpires.
Wasim Khan, ICC's General Manager of Cricket, regards this move as a significant milestone, creating more avenues for women umpires.
“This is a watershed moment for women's cricket as we look to both implement a female match officials' pathway programme and accelerate officiating opportunities for our very best performers. Neutral appointments will give female umpires more exposure to different conditions and will support the learning and development of local female umpires who officiate alongside them.”
“Last year we had the first all-female match officials' panel at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa and so it is important that we build on that momentum through a combination of development and high-quality opportunities.”
The ICC is dedicated to prioritising female officials for these neutral umpire positions, with the aim of increasing their representation on the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in the forthcoming years.
This strategic move aligns with the ICC's broader ambition to elevate the involvement and visibility of women both on and off the field in cricket. Sue Redfern, a seasoned figure in the cricketing realm, expressed her honour at being appointed the first official female neutral umpire by the ICC.
