HYDERABAD: GS Lakshmi, a former fast bowler, was set to officiate her sixth ICC event when the women's T20 World Cup kicked off in England on June 12. At 58, Lakshmi was a regular feature at women's cricket tournaments across the globe and had already served as the match referee in two ODI World Cups and three T20 World Cups. She also officiated the finals of three World Cups: the Women's One Day WC final in New Zealand in 2022, which made her the first woman to do so, and the T20 WC finals in South Africa in 2023 and in Dubai in 2024, which she said were the most memorable moments of her career.
A Long and Fulfilling Career
"I am happy that I could have such a long career. I didn't expect to continue for so long when I started. My goal is to continue for as long as I can and I just want to do the best and leave a legacy behind," said Lakshmi. "Being the first woman to achieve many firsts, that gives me satisfaction because I thought I didn't get an opportunity at a long career as a player. Though I came close to playing for the country, I never did. That regret always remained in my head. So, when this opportunity came along, I thought God had opened the doors for me once again and I wanted to make the most of it," she added.
Early Life and Playing Career
Born in Kovvur near Rajahmundry, Lakshmi was brought up in Jamshedpur where her father G Sharma had worked with Tata Motors. She began her career in 1985 as a player, debuted for Bihar, and played for Andhra women and South Central Railways in a career spanning from 1989 to 2004. She almost got into the Indian team in England in 1999 but could not make it to the playing XI. Lakshmi moved to Hyderabad in 1989 after landing a job with South Central Railways. After her retirement, she went on to coach the SCR women's team till 2014.
Transition to Officiating
Her tryst with officiating began in 2014 when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allowed women into the profession, and she was named among five female candidates for the job. From there on, there was no stopping her. She became the first female on the ICC International Panel of Match Referees in 2019. She was one of the three match referees for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup qualifier tournament in UAE, becoming the first woman to be named as a referee at an ICC event. In the same year, she was named as the match referee for the opening match of the 2019 United Arab Emirates Tri-National Series, becoming the first woman to oversee a men's ODI match.
Challenges and Legacy
Lakshmi said being a woman in a male-dominated profession came with challenges, but after some initial hiccups, it was business as usual. She hopes to continue officiating and inspiring future generations. "I want to leave a legacy that shows women can excel in any role in cricket," she concluded.
