Umpires and match officials wore black armbands during the 4th T20I between India and West Indies men’s cricket teams in Hyderabad on Wednesday, October 14, in an apparent tribute to Zimbabwean umpire Sarah Dambanevana, who passed away at the age of 36.
Although no official explanation was provided during the match, the gesture was understood to honour Dambanevana’s contribution to international cricket and her pioneering role in women’s umpiring.
Match Officials Pay Tribute to Sarah Dambanevana
On-field umpires Nitin Menon and Virender Sharma were seen wearing black armbands during the India-West Indies encounter. Third umpire Rohan Pandit and match referee Prakash Bhatt also participated in the tribute.
A similar gesture was observed during the third T20I between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Officials involved in that match included on-field umpires Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Nasir Hussain and match referee Ali Naqvi.
Sarah Dambanevana’s Cricket Career
Dambanevana represented Zimbabwe as a fast bowler between 2009 and 2014, including an appearance at the 2011 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. After her playing career, she moved into umpiring and joined the ICC Development Umpires Panel in 2022.
She made her senior international umpiring debut on September 2, 2023, during a Women’s T20I between Kenya and Botswana.
Her career included several major ICC tournaments, including the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE and the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
She also officiated in the 2023 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup final between India and England, becoming the first Zimbabwean woman to umpire a World Cup final.
Across her career, Dambanevana officiated in 72 senior international matches, comprising 48 Women’s T20Is, 14 Women’s ODIs and 10 Men’s T20Is.
Zimbabwe Cricket Mourns Her Passing
According to Zimbabwe Cricket, Dambanevana had been receiving hospital treatment and passed away in Harare on Monday.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed his condolences, describing her death as a devastating loss.
“We are devastated by Sarah’s passing. To lose her at just 36, with so much still ahead of her, is heartbreaking,” Mukuhlani said.
He also praised her achievements as both a player and an international umpire.
“Sarah served Zimbabwe with distinction, first as a player and then as an umpire whose ability earned her a place on the world stage,” he added.
Dambanevana’s achievements helped create opportunities for women in cricket officiating, making her an important figure in Zimbabwean cricket history.
The black armbands worn during the India-West Indies and Pakistan-Sri Lanka matches served as a visible mark of respect for an official whose career made a lasting contribution to the sport.
