In a significant milestone underscoring Australian cricket’s growing diversity, this year’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) matches will have a number of umpires of South Asian descent officiating, Cricket Australia has announced.
Four out of 35 members of State and Territory Umpire Panels (STUP) for the 2023/24 season announced by Cricket Australia are from Indian diaspora. Sharad Patel, Dhaval Bhatt, Gaurav Bawa and Harsimran Singh names will be officiating in WBBL 2023. Their names would also be considered as fourth umpires in ithe Big Bash League (BBL) for men.
Apart from these four umpires, three members from Pakistan and one from Sri Lankan heritage have also been named in the CA Umpires panel for season 2023/24. These umpires are, Syed Humayun, Ahmad Khan, and Muhammad Qureshi, who trace their origins back to Pakistan; and Dinusha Bandara of Sri Lankan heritage.
In total, 35 umpires have been selected by State and Territory Associations to join their respective Umpire Panels this season. The State and Territory Umpire Panels will be complemented by the seven CA Supplementary Umpire Panel members across all formats.
Six women have been included on the panels (Claire Polosak, Eloise Sheridan, Clare Haysom, Lisa McCabe, Ashlee Gibbons and Kate Holloman). Haysom and Holloman have been named on the panel for the first time.
Alongside Premier Cricket commitments, members of respective STUPs will be appointed to officiate in CA competitions, including the Weber Women’s Big Bash League, Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), Toyota Second XI, CA Underage National Championships and as Fourth Umpires in the KFC Big Bash League.
2023/24 State and Territory Umpire Panels
ACT: Dinusha Bandara, Syed Humayun, Paul Miller and Doug Toyne
New South Wales: Mitchell Claydon, Andrew Hamilton, Roberto Howard, Daniel Moran, Sharad Patel*, Troy Penman*, Claire Polosak* and Bede Sajowitz
Queensland: Joshua Adie, Stephen Dionysius*, Ben Farrell, Nathan James, Tom Logan, Michael Mellifont, David Taylor* and Mattheus (Riki) Wessels
South Australia: Dhaval Bhatt, Andrew Crozier*, James Cushway, Peter George, Kurt Miegel, Harsimran Singh and Eloise Sheridan*
Tasmania: Sam Burns, Simon Burns, Muhammad Qureshi and Craig Seabourne
Victoria: Gaurav Bawa, Daryl Brigham, Chris Grant, Clare Haysom, Lisa MaCabe and Mattis van Eck
Western Australia: Jarryd Buscall, Ashlee Gibbons, Kate Holloman, Ahmad Khan and Jamie Thomas
The Women’s Big Bash League is currently in progress.
