Umpire Claire Polosak earns spot at T20 WC

Cricket's world governing body is moving to diversify the typically male-dominated arena of umpiring with two women, including an Australian, to officiate at next month's women's T20 World Cup in India.

Claire Polosak and her New Zealand counterpart Kathy Cross will become the first women to adjudicate at any T20 World Cup after being included in a 31-person team of officials to oversee the concurrent men's and women's tournaments.

Polosak, who is also the youngest official at 27, will officiate in the women's match between New Zealand and Ireland on March 18 alongside Vineet Kulkarni in Mohali.

Two days earlier, Cross will become the first female umpire in the tournament's history when she walks out for the women's match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Chennai.

Their appointments, the ICC says, are part of a wider push to diversify cricket.

Polosak, a Sydney-based school teacher, made history by becoming the first woman to umpire in a List A competition in Australia when she undertook third umpire duties in the Matador Cup clash between Queensland and the Cricket Australia XI last year.

She was also recently chosen to officiate in the women's World Cup qualifiers in Thailand.

Polosak expressed surprise at her climb through the ranks.

"When I started umpiring at 15, I really didn't think I'd have the opportunities that have already been presented to me at 27," she said.

Cross is more experienced having previously umpired in the women's one-day World Cups in 2000, 2009 and 2013.