Meet Arati Vaidya - The first woman match referee in India

For the first time ever, a woman officiated the proceedings as a match referee in a domestic cricket league. Former Indian women cricketer, Arati Vaidya made it into the record books on Thursday evening. She became the first woman in India to take up the role of a match referee. She officiated a match in the first edition of the T20 Mumbai League.

In the match between NaMo Bandra Blasters and SoBo Supersonics at Wankhede Stadium, she acted as the match referee. Arati has played 3 Tests and 6 ODIs for India women between 1995 and 1999. She was also a former Mumbai Under-19 selector. Furthermore, she also officiated in women’s international matches, and boys age-group games run by BCCI.

Arati Vaidya glad to get this opportunity

Arati Vaidya said that she was honored to be given this opportunity by the Mumbai Cricket Association(MCA). Moreover, speaking before the game, she said that she was very excited to be officiating the game. “I am grateful to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) who have given me this recognition and honor. I am very excited to officiate in this game,” she said.

Furthermore, the 47-year-old Vaidya opined that being a referee in the recent times is much tougher. She noted that they didn’t care too much about the rules during he playing days. She added that the game has to be seen from a different perspective if you are the referee. Also, she said that boys appear more cautious when a woman is refereeing.

“A referee’s job is more challenging because, in our playing days, we were not bothered by laws etc. But as a referee, you see the game in different perspective. From my experience (of officiating in age group cricket), when a woman is refereeing, the boys appeared cautious. I think it’s a psychological thing,” she concluded.