After launching the 100% Cricket, a 12-month campaign building on the momentum of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 two Indian umpires were inducted into the international panel of the ICC Development Umpires.
Narayanan and Rathi inducted
Janani Narayanan and Vrinda Rathi were inducted into the ICC Development Umpires on Tuesday. Now the number of women match officials across different ICC panels is 12. Narayanan does not have any cricket background whereas Rathi has played cricket for Mumbai University from 2007-08 to 2010-11. Narayanan is from Chennai and has officiated in a number of domestic matches in India since 2018. For Rathi, the journey started after the 2013 World Cup in India when she saw Kathy Cross from New Zealand officiating the match. Before that, she used to work as a scorer in international cricket matches.
Narayanan takes inspiration from the late English umpire David Shepherd and retired India umpire S Venkataraghavan. In the official press release by the ICC, she said, “It feels great to know that Vrinda and I have been inducted into the ICC’s development panel. This gives me the chance to learn from seniors on the circuit and improve in the years to come. Cricket has become part of my daily routine since the 90s and I look forward to be associated with the sport at a higher level.”
Rathi, on the other hand, thanked BCCI as well and said, “I would like to thank Mr Radhakrishnan, who has been my mentor since I first started umpiring. I would also like to thank my parents who never stopped me from watching cricket on TV, my senior umpires Sai Darshan, Ashwin Kumar and all my state panel umpires, national panel umpires and referees who have helped me learn and grow.”
ICC welcomes the duo
Adrian Griffith, the ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees believes that this is the best time to have more women officials amid the growth of women’s cricket globally. “These are exciting times for women’s cricket, and it is only appropriate that we have more women officials at the international level. We will work proactively with Member Boards to give female officials the pathway needed for their growth.”
He further added, “I am sure Janani and Vrinda are looking forward to their time on the panel. I wish them all the best and hope they not only perform well on assignment, but continue to develop their skillset with our support as they travel along their journey.”
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