New Zealand Cricket congratulates umpire Kathleen (Kathy) Cross on her maiden appointment to the ICC’s 31-member match officials’ team for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which runs from 8 March to 3 April to decide both the men’s and women’s international crowns.
Cross joins match referee and former New Zealand cricket captain Jeff Crowe and umpire Chris Gaffaney as Kiwis officiating at the major world tournament, and is one of just two women umpires, joining Claire Polosak of Australia.
Chris Gaffaney
The pair was earlier among a group of international women officials selected to umpire in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 in Thailand, earlier this season.
Their appointments in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2016 comes as the game’s governing body continues to place an important emphasis in recognising that cricket is a game for all, inspiring more women across the globe to become involved in officiating and participating in cricket.
Cross, of Ngāti Maniapoto descent, will make history in Chennai on 16 March when she will become the first female umpire to officiate in the ICC World Twenty20 by umpiring in the women’s match featuring Pakistan and Bangladesh, standing alongside Anil Chaudhary.
Two days later, Polosak will make her debut at a global event when she will perform on-field duties along with Vineet Kulkarni in the New Zealand WHITE FERNS versus Ireland women’s match in Mohali on 18 March.
Taumarunui-born Cross became the first woman to be named in an ICC umpires’ panel when she was added to the ICC Associate and Affiliate Panel of International Umpires in 2014.
She has previously umpired in the ICC Women’s World Cups in 2000, 2009 and 2013, the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in 2011 and the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier in 2013 and 2015.
In recent years, Kathy, a former wicketkeeper, has also worked at men’s senior events, including the ICC World Cricket League Championship Divisions 3 and 5; as well as in men’s domestic cricket in New Zealand and across all levels of the New Zealand women’s game.
Cross is umpiring in the WHITE FERNS' opening two Twenty20 Internationals at the Basin Reserve this week ahead of the world event.
