Lauren Agenbag and Shandre Fritz join SA20 match officials

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Lauren Agenbag umpireLauren Agenbag.

Posted By: Editorial January 8, 2024

Umpire Lauren Agenbag and match referee Shandre Fritz have been named among the officials for the 2024 SA20.

The second edition of the SA20 will start on 10 January, when reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape host the Joburg Super Kings at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.

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“The league’s commitment to promoting diversity across all levels of the game has been illustrated with the promotion of the first female, Agenbag, to the umpires’ panel for season two,” read a statement from the SA20.

“Agenbag is a trailblazer in the umpiring world after the 26-year-old also became the first woman to be appointed to the Cricket South Africa elite umpires panel, whose officials oversee all senior provincial domestic matches, this past season.

“Her resume is well decorated after also standing in an Women’s World Cup final, officiating in the showpiece of the 2021 50-over women’s event in New Zealand between Australia and England. In addition, Agenbag is also the youngest to have officiated an international match, after making her debut as a 22-year-old in a T20I between South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2019.

“She will be joined by former International Cricket Council Umpire of the Year Marais Erasmus, who officiated in the 2022 and 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finals, as well as the 2019 ICC Men’s World Cup final at Lord’s.

“Among the match referees will also be former Proteas Women’s international, Shandre Fritz, who along with Agenbag, formed part of a historic first ever all-female panel of match officials for the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup held in South Africa last year.

“Other notable umpires on the list include Babalo Gcuma, who was the first recipient of the umpire exchange programme between the league and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s The Hundred. The programme was designed to give rising umpires in both countries the opportunity to experience new environments to further develop and expand their careers.

“Gcuma officiated in four matches during The Hundred and will return to SA20 much richer for the experience. Russell Warren will be on the ground in South Africa from the United Kingdom as the reciprocal recipient of the umpire exchange programme with the ECB.

“Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele were not available for the round-robin matches due to ICC commitments. They will be considered for the play-off matches subject to availability.”

2024 SA20 match referees and umpires

SA20 umpires

  1. Babalo Gcuma
  2. Stephen Harris
  3. Arno Jacobs
  4. Siphelele Gasa
  5. Abdoellaah Steenkamp
  6. Mazizi Gampu
  7. Abongile Sodumo
  8. Brad White
  9. Dennis  Smith
  10. Philip Vosloo
  11. Tom Mokorosi
  12. Ryan Hendricks
  13. Lauren Agenbag
  14. Russell Warren
  15. Marais Erasmus

SA20 match referees

  1. Gerrie Pienaar
  2. Laurence Matroos
  3. Barry Lambson
  4. Shandre Fritz
  5. Zed Ndamane

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