GS Lakshmi, First Female Match Referee (Source: @oyeekd/x.com)
In the era of women’s empowerment and the global fight for gender equality, cricket was slow to follow suit. Even though Women’s cricket came to the cricket world long ago, the appointment of the first female match official in the ICC was made just six years ago, in 2019.
As the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is commencing later this month, the ICC made a game-changing move by announcing an all-female match official panel for the first time in history. But who paved the way for this milestone? It was a former Indian cricketer, GS Lakshmi, who became the trailblazer, taking the first bold step in this groundbreaking journey. Let’s dive into this historic moment.
Breaking Barriers In A Male-Dominated Arena
The game of cricket has always been called the game of cricket, but what about the women’s side of it? Women’s cricket was a pioneer, but men’s cricket gained the limelight when women’s cricket was sidelined. The reasons may be many, but one undeniable factor is the deep-rooted influence of patriarchy.
Whenever history tried to sideline women, a pioneer rose to rewrite the script. Creating revolution in world cricket, former Indian player Gandikota Sarva Lakshmi is the torchbearer of officiating a cricket match for, first time as a female associate.
It may sound like a spectacular incident of cricket, but the road was not an easy one. Breaking into a male-dominated arena was no easy feat, yet her unwavering spirit turned barriers into milestones as she established herself as the first female match referee in a game of cricket.
From Cricket Bats To Match Referee: GS Lakshmi Dared To Dream Big
Being born in 1968, GS Lakshmi grew up in Jamshedpur, where her cricketing journey unfolded. In her prolonged cricket career, she represented teams like Bihar Women, Andhra Women, East Zone Women, South Zone Women, and Andhra Women. Though she earned a call-up for India’s 1999 series against England, she never got the chance to debut. After years of dedicated service to the game, she hung up her boots in 2004.
As life taught us, there should always be a Plan B. GS Lakshmi’s second innings with cricket marked a revolution in the cricket arena. In the 2008-09 domestic season of women’s cricket, she was elected as a match referee when the BCCI allowed female match referees for the very first time.
As the nation remained stunned by this move but Lakshmi proved it is just the beginning. She was shortlisted for BCCI’s qualification exam for match referees in 2014. Soon after, she broke yet another barrier by stepping into the men’s domestic circuit as an official, marking a powerful milestone in her trailblazing journey.
Lakshmi’s Groundbreaking Journey Earns Global Recognition
After being the pioneer in the domestic level, GS Lakshmi set her sights on international success. In May 2019, she scripted history by becoming the ICC’s first-ever female match referee, debuting in a high-profile clash between England and Australia.
Her journey didn’t stop there; she went on to officiate in the Women’s T20 Challenge, the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier, and the UAE Tri-Nation Series. In 2024, she achieved another remarkable feat of being a part of ICC’s all-female officiating group for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The beginning of a bold chapter.
GS Lakshmi To Grace The Women’s World Cup 2025 Stage
The stage is set for another electrifying edition of the Women’s World Cup later this month, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Ahead of that, ICC took a revolutionary step of naming an all-female match official panel for the tournament.
Leading the way once again, GS Lakshmi finds her name on the prestigious list, reinforcing her legacy as a true game-changer in world cricket. Her story reminds us that every pioneer faces challenges. Resilience and passion can change history. From one bold step to an all-female World Cup panel, this journey shows empowerment and progress.
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