Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Jan 13, 2025 (BSS)- The International Cricket Council (ICC) named 
Bangladesh's Shathira Jakir Jessy as one the umpires amongst 20 match 
officials to stand in the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup in Malaysia.

Jessy was the first female umpire appointed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board 
and most recently stood at the 2024 Women's T20 Asia Cup, having previously 
represented her country as a bowler.

"Trailblazing Bangladeshi umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy is among 20 match 
officials appointed to stand in the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup in 
Malaysia," the ICC said in a press release here today.

Jessy is joined by Candace La Borde and Dedunu De Silva, who were both part 
of the match officials team for the inaugural tournament final that saw India 
clinch the trophy.

South Africa's Kerrin Klaaste, 26, has also been selected to umpire at the 
tournament for a second time.

India's pioneering officials, Narayanan Janani and Gayathri Venugopalan are 
among those appointed to the tournament for the first time. They became the 
first women to stand as on-field umpires in a men's domestic fixture in 
India, along with Vrinda Rathi.

Shivani Mishra, also part of the line-up, became the first female on-field 
umpire to officiate in a men's T20I in January 2019.

ICC Senior Manager - Umpires and Referees-- Sean Easey highlighted the 
diversity of the officials appointed as he looked ahead to the tournament 
that gets underway on January 18, with 14 nations represented including 
Qatar, Ireland, the USA and Oman.

"Congratulations to the umpires and match referees who have been selected to 
this event," he said. "These individuals have earned selection by performing 
well in bilateral cricket. It is a wonderfully diverse group, just like the 
game that they represent.

"Similar to the players at this event, these officials have been identified 
as having high potential. We are confident that they will perform well and 
that some will progress to officiate at the higher levels of the game."

David Gilbert, Dean Cosker, Reon King, and Trudy Anderson have been appointed 
as match referees.

Match Officials for ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025
Umpires: Ashlee Gibbons (Australia), Shathira Jakir Jessy (Bangladesh), 
Gayathri Venugopalan (India), Narayanan Janani (India), Aidan Seaver 
(Ireland), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Rizwan Akram (Netherlands), Rahul Asher 
(Oman), Saleema Imtiaz (Pakistan), Shivani Mishra (Qatar), Kerrin Klaaste 
(South Africa), Dedunu De Silva (Sri Lanka), Vijaya Prakash Mallela (USA), 
Candace La Borde (West Indies), Maria Abbott (West Indies) and Forster 
Mutizwa (Zimbabwe)

Match referees: David Gilbert (Australia), Dean Cosker (England), Trudy 
Anderson (New Zealand) and Reon King (West Indies).