History on the Line: Meet the Elite Officiating Team for the India vs. South Africa World Cup Final
ICC Women’s World Cup Final 2025: Meet the Match Officials Behind the Big Game. The stage is set. The lights are ready. And a new champion is about to be crowned. This Sunday, the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai will witness a truly historic clash as India and South Africa battle it out for their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title.
It’s the kind of game that legends are made of. Both teams have fought tooth and nail to get here, toppling giants like Australia and England in nail-biting semi-finals. As the players gear up for the biggest match of their lives, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has ensured the game is in the safest possible hands, announcing an elite, all-female panel of match officials to preside over the grand finale.
So, who are the guardians entrusted with overseeing this monumental showdown?
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just another cricket match. For both India and South Africa, this is a date with destiny. One of these nations will lift the coveted trophy for the very first time, etching their name into cricket folklore forever.
After a grueling tournament, it all boils down to this one game on Sunday, November 2nd, with the first ball scheduled for 3:00 PM local time. The atmosphere will be electric, the pressure immense, and every single decision will be under the microscope. That’s why having a calm, experienced, and authoritative officiating team is absolutely crucial.
The Guardians of the Final: A World-Class Panel
The ICC has appointed a team brimming with experience and recognized for their impeccable judgment under pressure. They are the best in the business, ready to ensure that the spirit of cricket prevails on its biggest stage.
Here’s the team that will be officiating the final:
On-field Umpires: Eloise Sheridan and Jacquline Williams
Third Umpire: Sue Redfern
Fourth Umpire: Nimali Perera
Match Referee: Michell Pereira
Experience When It Matters Most
When you look at the on-field umpires, Eloise Sheridan and Jacquline Williams, one word comes to mind: experience. These two are no strangers to the high-stakes environment of this tournament. In fact, they were the duo in the middle for South Africa’s thumping 125-run victory over England in the semi-final. They’ve already had a taste of the pressure and have proven they can handle it.
But there’s another fascinating wrinkle. Jacquline Williams also stood in the group-stage encounter between India and South Africa back on October 9. In a match that South Africa won, Williams had a front-row seat to the dynamics between these two powerhouses. Does that prior experience give her a unique insight into the teams’ strategies? It certainly adds another layer of intrigue to the final.
With Sue Redfern’s sharp eyes in the third umpire’s box and the steady hands of Nimali Perera and Michell Pereira rounding out the team, every base is covered.
A Date with Destiny
As the countdown to the final begins, everything is perfectly poised for an unforgettable contest. Two hungry, deserving teams are ready to leave it all on the field in pursuit of glory. And overseeing it all is a team of officials at the top of their game, ready to ensure a fair and thrilling conclusion to what has been a spectacular World Cup.
On Sunday, a new chapter in cricket history will be written. Whether it’s India or South Africa celebrating under the Mumbai sky, one thing is certain: the game is in great hands.
