Precious Smith continues to make giant strides in her cricket officiating career after becoming the first Bermudian female umpire to be appointed to the International Cricket Council Development Panel A Umpires list for 2026-27.

Smith is listed under the Americas region alongside the Canadian trio of Arnold Maddela, Harry Grewal and Rohan Shah, Paul Manning, of Cayman Islands, and Aditya Gajjar, Jermaine Lindo and Vijaya Prakash Mallela from the United States.

The 30-year-old’s rise comes after a brilliant 2025, in which she umpired the Bermuda Smash Invitational final and became the first woman to stand in the middle in Eastern Counties. She was also part of the Cup Match umpiring team for the second consecutive year.

At the end of last year she also officiated at the Bolivarian Games, held in Lima, Peru.

Smith’s international debut is likely to come on home turf when Bermuda hosts the T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier next month.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and excited for what lies ahead,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“Being appointed to the ICC Americas Development Panel A is truly an honour and a proud milestone in my umpiring journey.

“To be recognised at this level is both humbling and motivating. It reflects the hard work, sacrifice and dedication that I have put into developing myself as an umpire since joining five years ago.

“This appointment is not something I take lightly. It inspires me to continue working even harder to improve every aspect of my craft.

“I understand that remaining on the panel requires consistency, professionalism, strong performances and a willingness to constantly learn and adapt.

“My focus moving forward will be on maintaining high standards, continuing my physical and mental preparation, studying the game in greater depth and embracing every opportunity to grow and develop at international level.”

Since 2023, Smith has been receiving guidance from Jacqueline Williams, of Jamaica, who has been umpiring internationally for more than a decade.

“An important part of my growth and development as an umpire has come through the mentorship and guidance of ICC umpire Jacqueline Williams,” she said.

“Her influence throughout my journey has been invaluable and I am deeply grateful for the way she welcomed me under her wing.

“Her continuous support, encouragement and the extensive knowledge she has imparted to me have played a significant role in strengthening my understanding of the game, building my confidence and refining my skills as an umpire.

“Having someone of her experience and calibre believe in me and invest time in my development has meant a great deal to me. I continue to learn and be inspired by her professionalism and example, both on and off the field.

“Moreover, I hope that this achievement can serve as inspiration to other young people — women included — to step forward and become involved in officiating this great game.

“Representation matters and I want others to see that there is a place for them in cricket, whether on the field as players or in officiating roles that are equally important to the growth and success of the sport.”

Smith spoke of some of the challenges she has encountered as a female in a male-dominated field.

“As a woman, the road certainly has not been easy,” the umpire said.

“There have been challenges, doubts and immense pressure along the way. But I remained steadfast in my belief that by staying focused, disciplined and knowledgeable about the game, I could officiate men’s cricket just as effectively as my male colleagues and ultimately succeed.

“I have always believed that competence, preparation and confidence speak louder than stereotypes. I hope my journey encourages others to believe in themselves regardless of the obstacles they may face.

“This achievement is not only personal for me, but also a reminder that perseverance, resilience, and passion can open doors.

“I want to continue paving the way for the next generation of officials by showing that with hard work and dedication, opportunities at the international level are possible. Lastly, I also want to acknowledge everyone who has supported me along the way — my family, the BCUA former president and current president as well as the BCUA membership and even the players who keep me on my toes.

“Cricket is a game that constantly challenges you to improve and I look forward to continuing the journey, embracing the challenges ahead and striving to reach even greater heights in umpiring. Also, I am committed to representing my country on this panel with pride, integrity, and professionalism every time I step onto the field.”

While being an on-field umpire in Cup Match is her dream, Smith is concentrating on becoming a better umpire.

“To be honest, I’m not overly focused on being appointed to Cup Match at this stage,” she said.

“My main priority right now is continuing to perform consistently throughout the league season and improving my craft. I believe that once you continue putting in the work and maintaining high standards, opportunities will naturally come.

“Appointments like Cup Match will speak for themselves in time and I firmly believe that what is meant for me will happen when the time is right.

“I’m not sitting at home stressing over it or putting pressure on myself about it. My focus is simply on continuing to improve, gain experience and give my best every time I step onto the field.

“Just like my ICC appointment came through hard work and persistence. I believe opportunities like Cup Match will eventually come as part of the journey.”

Steven Douglas, the BCB cricket committee chairman, congratulated Smith on her progression.

“As someone that’s been there to see someone else grow and get promoted, it’s a special achievement,” Douglas said.

“I remember when she used to play and I think when it came to umpiring, it came a lot easier for her to umpire because of her playing career.

“It allowed her to fit in really easily because when you play, you get to know the laws of the game, so that is a plus in this case for her.

“As I’ve told her, it’s just starting for her. She’s got the right mentor and the leading female umpire in West Indies to guide her. I have to give credit to BCUA members, former president [Emmerson] Carrington, training officer Roger Dill and her colleagues who stand with her on weekends.

According to the BCUA, five additional umpires from Bermuda have been appointed to the ICC Americas Development Panel B. These are Linnell Williams, Anderson Cumberbatch, John Pitcher, Alexander Knight and Dexter Smith.

Mark McCormack, the BCUA president, described the appointments as a significant milestone for Bermuda cricket and a reflection of the island’s growing reputation for producing quality match officials.

“These appointments demonstrate the depth of talent and commitment that exists within Bermuda’s umpiring community,” he said.

“All of these officials have worked tirelessly to achieve this recognition, and we are extremely proud of what they have accomplished.

“The BCB and BCUA remain committed to supporting the ongoing development of Bermudian umpires as they continue representing the island on the international stage.

“Moreover, these appointments are widely viewed as another positive step forward for Bermuda cricket, strengthening the island’s presence within the global game and reinforcing confidence in the standard of local officiating.”