Shining star on international cricket horizon! ICC appoints G S Lakshmi as a 1st female referee
New Delhi, May 14: Indian Women cricket is shining spot of Indian sports. Making ‘her’ position on international cricket horizon, following close on the heels of Claire Polosak, who earlier this month became the 1st ever woman umpire in men’s ODI, GS Lakshmi has become the International Cricket Council’s 1st woman on the international panel of match referees.
GS Lakshmi will be eligible to referee international games with immediate effect. The former India Women cricketer has become the International Cricket Council's first woman on the international panel of match referees.
GS Lakshmi, the 51-year-old, who first presided as a match referee in domestic women's cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women's ODI matches and as many women's T20I games.
On this occasion, GS Lakshmi said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ICC, officials at the BCCI, my seniors in the cricketing circuit, my family and colleagues who have supported me over the years. I hope to live up to their expectations by doing my job to the best of my ability”.
Further, she said, “To be selected in the international panel by the ICC is a huge honor for me as it opens up new avenues. I have had a long career as a cricketer in India and also as a Match Referee. I hope to put my experience both as a player and as a match official to good use on the international circuit”.
In the meantime, Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager, Umpires and Referees said, "We welcome Lakshmi and Eloise to our panels, which is an important step forward in our commitment to encouraging women officials. It is heartening to see their progress and I am sure many more women will be inspired to follow their example. I wish them all the best for a long and enjoyable career."