Sports Desk- This is going to be the first time in men’s international cricket when a woman will play the third umpire. Jacqueline Williams of the West Indies will play the third umpire in the first T20 match against Ireland. The 43-year-old Jamaican woman will play this responsibility in all the three matches of the series. The series starts on Wednesday.
“This is a matter of huge honor for me and I am really excited at the prospect of my role as TV umpire in a men’s international match. I have officiated as a third umpire in men’s matches before, but this is for the first time in an international and that too featuring the West Indies,” Jacqueline said in an ICC statement.
“I am thankful to the International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies for all the help and support over the years and wish that more women take up umpiring in the coming years. Umpiring is a challenging job but one from which I derive utmost satisfaction,” she added.
Last month, India’s G S Lakshmi oversaw the third series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first woman match referee in men’s ODIs. Earlier in May, she became the first woman to be appointed onto the ICC International Panel of Match Referees.
