Africa loses a pioneer as Zimbabwe’s Dambanevana dies at 36
AFRICAN cricket has lost one of its most respected match officials after Zimbabwean umpire Sarah Dambanevana died in Harare on Monday, aged 36.
Dambanevana, a former Zimbabwe Women fast bowler, rose from the ICC Development Panel to umpiring at World Cups. Along the way she became a familiar and respected figure at grounds across the continent.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said she had been in hospital since undergoing a medical procedure in March.
Much of her international career was built in Africa. She made her senior international debut on 2 September 2023 in Gaborone, standing in the women’s T20I between Botswana and Kenya at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Division Two Qualifier.
Less than three months later, she made her men’s T20I debut in Windhoek, officiating Kenya against Rwanda.
Her breakthrough on the global stage also came on African soil. In January 2023, she stood in the final of the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, where India played England. She was the first Zimbabwean woman to umpire a Cricket World Cup final.
“Watching her stand in a World Cup final was a moment of immense pride for our cricket community and our country,” said Tavengwa Mukuhlani, who paid tribute in his capacity as ZC chairperson. Mukuhlani is also president of the Africa Cricket Association and deputy chairperson of the International Cricket Council.
“Sarah served Zimbabwe with distinction, first as a player and then as an umpire whose ability earned her a place on the world stage.”
Born on 26 May 1990, Dambanevana played for Zimbabwe Women from 2009 to 2014, including at the 2011 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. She joined the ICC Development Panel of Umpires in 2022.
She went on to officiate at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United Arab Emirates and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka. At the 2025 tournament, she was one of the historic all-female panel of match officials.
At home, she became the first Zimbabwean woman to umpire in the Logan Cup, the country’s first-class competition, in February 2024.
She stood in 63 senior internationals: 42 women’s T20Is, 11 women’s ODIs and 10 men’s T20Is.
For a continent still building pathways for women in officiating, her career was a template.
“She showed young Zimbabwean women that they belong at the highest levels of the game, including in roles where opportunities had long been limited,” Mukuhlani said.
“Through her achievements, she opened doors and gave others the confidence to pursue their own ambitions.”
“Her passing leaves a painful void in our cricket family, but the example she set will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.”
