(Image Source: ECB)
[Saba Sports News] England’s Sue Redfern will make history as the first ICC-appointed female neutral umpire in a bilateral series at the upcoming WT20I between Australia and South Africa. This landmark appointment aligns with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) initiative to have one neutral umpire in all ICC Women’s Championship series and associated T20I matches, enhancing match neutrality and supporting female umpire development. Seven female neutral umpires are slated to officiate in the ICC Women’s Championship series, receiving the same match-day pay as their counterparts on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
Wasim Khan, ICC’s General Manager of Cricket, views this as a significant advancement in creating opportunities for women umpires. “This critical step forwards in women’s cricket aligns with our strategy to develop a pathway for female match officials and offer them high-quality officiating opportunities. Neutral appointments will not only provide female umpires with varied experiences in different conditions but also aid the growth of local female umpires working alongside them,” he commented in an ICC statement.
Redfern expressed her excitement about the role, recognizing its potential to further the progression of female match officials. “This pivotal moment for women’s cricket and female officials, who have seen increased development opportunities recently, is incredibly important,” Redfern remarked. She thanked the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for their support and looked forward to similar future assignments.
The ICC plans to prioritize female officials for neutral umpiring roles in ICC Women’s Championship series. These umpires will receive equal match-day pay and similar benefits as their male counterparts on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. Selected based on merit, more female umpires are expected to join the ICC International Panel of Umpires in the coming years, reflecting the ICC’s strategic goal of enhancing women’s roles in cricket, both on and off the field.
Redfern, a former England cricketer who played in six Tests and 15 ODIs from 1995 to 1999, including the 1997 World Cup in India, has been a member of the ICC Development Panel of Umpires since 2016. Her experience includes officiating in two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups (2017 and 2022) and three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups (2018, 2022, and 2024).