KNYSNA NEWS - Kerrin Klaaste from Knysna is making waves in the world of cricket, not as a player but as one of the few women umpires at the highest level.
Most recently she officiated in the ICC u.19 Women's T20 World Cup that was held in Malaysia.
The experience was both exhilarating and challenging, with high-pressure decisions and an international spotlight on her.
"The chance to travel to another country and be part of such a prestigious tournament was exciting and very appealing. It was also a huge opportunity to prove myself," Klaaste says.
Despite the intensity of the event, one moment stood out for her - officiating in the semi-final between India and England.
"It was my last match of the tournament, and South Africa had already qualified for the final. That knowledge gave me the freedom to officiate without pressure, which made it one of my highlights."
Where did it all begin?
Her road to success began in 2017 when she made the decision be a full-time umpire.
"I wrote the scorer's exam and the Level 1 umpire exam, diving into the world of officiating, and the rest is history," she recalls.
Starting at the club level, her hard work quickly led to more opportunities at provincial level.
Klaaste also balanced her career with education, completing her BSc in Data Science. Her decision to move to Knysna in 2021 marked a pivotal point in her umpiring career, propelling her on to the national and international stage.
Championing women representation
As one of only two women umpires from South Africa on the Emirates ICC International Panel, she is paving the way for future generations.
"Umpires become beacons of inclusion for women in the game of cricket," Klaaste believes. "Young girls watching the game need to see that there's more to cricket than just being a player."
Looking to the future
She says she is aiming for higher achievements, with dreams of making it to the CSA First Class Panel one day.
"I want to inspire more women to umpire and help raise the competition level for those already in the space. Competition breeds growth, and growth breeds success. The opportunities for women are growing each day."
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