India’s GS Lakshmi is international cricket’s first woman match referee
NEWDELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday named former Indian cricketer GS Lakshmi as the first woman on the international panel of match referees, making her eligible to take control of men’s games. The 51-year-old Lakshmi, who first officiated as a referee in domestic women’s cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women’s became the first woman umpire in a men’s ODI last month. Lakshmi feels her elevation is a step forward for women’s cricket. Lakshmi was part of the squad that toured England in 1999, but she didn’t get to play. She was among five people ICC shortlisted from more than 100 women who took the match officials’ test held under the supervision of former ICC Elite Panel umpire, Simon Taufel. in 2014.