Zimbabwe's player-turned-umpire dies aged 36
Sarah Dambanevana, a pioneering Zimbabwean cricketer who transitioned into a successful international umpire, has passed away at age 36. She was the first Zimbabwean woman to officiate in a World Cup final and served on the historic all-female panel for the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup.
Why it matters
Dambanevana's career was a significant milestone for women in sports officiating, and her death is a major loss to the international cricket community.
Agencies Zimbabwe's player-turned-umpire Sarah Dambanevana passed away in Harare on Monday.
She was 36 and had remained in hospital since undergoing a medical procedure in March. Born on May 26, 1990, Dambanevana represented the Zimbabwe women's team at the 2011 Women's World Cup Qualifier.
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