Sarah Dambanevana
From player to a trailblazing umpire
Dambanevana represented Zimbabwe as a player between 2009 and 2014 before moving into umpiring, where she went on to make history on the international stage. Dambanevana began her senior international umpiring career in September 2023. Earlier that year, she became the first Zimbabwean woman to officiate in a World Cup final when she stood in the final of the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup between India and England in South Africa. She later officiated at the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2024, becoming first Zimbabwean female umpire to do so. She also took field in the Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in 2025.
“Sarah served Zimbabwe with distinction, first as a player and then as an umpire whose ability earned her a place on the world stage,” Mukuhlani said. At the latter tournament, she was part of the first all-female panel of match officials. Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani praised Dambanevana for her contribution to the game as both a player and an umpire. “Watching her stand in a World Cup final was a moment of immense pride for our cricket community and our country. She showed young Zimbabwean women that they belong at the highest levels of the game, including in roles where opportunities had long been limited.