West Indies umpire Jacqueline Williams is the lone Jamaican announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a match official for the league phase of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which kicks off on Friday, February 21.

A record six female umpires are set to take

the reins for the 23-match tournament, with Williams standing alongside Shaun

George in the opening bout between Australia and India.

The Jamaican joins fellow umpires Lauren

Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Claire Polosak and Sue Redfern with India’s GS Lakshmi

poised to become the first women’s match referee at a global ICC event.

Senior Manager of umpires and referees at the

ICC Adrian Griffith called the list of officials historic and encouraging.

“This is the largest compliment of women

match officials at a single event, and the progress we have made is heartening.

We have endeavoured to provide opportunities to women officials based on merit,

and it is because of their skillset and hard work that they have graduated to the

top level,” he disclosed.

“We appoint the best match officials for an

event and are pleased we have the right mix. I wish all match officials at the

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup the very best and am confident we will have smooth

adjudication of the matches,” Griffith, a former Barbadian batman, added.

Williams is one of two West Indies umpires

down to officiate during the February 21 to March 8 tournament, with Barbadian

Gregory Brathwaite also included.

The West Indies Women get their T20

campaign underway on Saturday, February 22 in their opener against newcomers Thailand.

The match will be officiated by Claire Polosak, who pairs with Nitin Menon.