Sathira Zakir Jessy, who officiated at last year’s Women’s One Day International (ODI) World Cup in India, has been appointed as an umpire for the upcoming Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to commence on 12 June in England, bringing together the top women’s cricket teams from across the globe.
Jessy’s selection marks a continuation of her international umpiring journey, reflecting her rapid rise within the ranks of elite cricket officials. A senior official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) umpires’ division commented, “Alongside our national team, having an umpire represent the country at the World Cup is a source of immense pride. Jessy has prior experience officiating on big stages and has improved tremendously in a short span. We hope she performs even better in the T20 format than she did in the ODI World Cup.”
Jessy, an International Cricket Council (ICC) certified umpire, officiated in eight matches during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Her assignments included four matches as on-field umpire, two as television umpire, and two as fourth umpire. With the T20 World Cup, she hopes to gain even more on-field opportunities and further establish her reputation at the international level.
She expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It is an incredible honour to umpire at a World Cup. The panel for women umpires has been finalised for the T20 World Cup, and serving in consecutive World Cups is a matter of pride. If I perform well, it can pave the way for other aspiring female umpires. I understand the ICC is planning to establish a women’s elite umpire panel, and performing well in tournaments like this could make me eligible for that.”
The tournament features two groups of six teams each:
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | West Indies |
| India | England |
| Pakistan | New Zealand |
| Australia | Sri Lanka |
| South Africa | Ireland |
| Netherlands | Scotland |
Group A will see Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, and the Netherlands compete, while Group B includes West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Scotland.
Jessy’s appointment is expected to inspire a new generation of female umpires in Bangladesh and beyond, highlighting the growing opportunities for women in international cricket officiating. Her participation underscores both personal achievement and the broader progress of women in sports governance.