The West Indies Cricket Board announced on Monday that female umpire Jacqueline Williams has been appointed to the panel of match officials for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 qualifiers, starting later this week in Thailand.

The 39-year-old Williams hails from the western Jamaica community of Ashton in the parish of Westmoreland. She will officiate at the Tournament which will be contested from November 28 to December 5 in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

Roland Holder, the WICB manager, cricket operations, said the regional governing body had agreed to fast-track Williams in an attempt to get her appointed to the panel of match officials for the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017.

“This along with her historic appointment to stand in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament and involvement in the international women’s matches against Pakistan are all a part of her preparation and training,” he said.

“The WICB has also assigned Peter Nero from its International Panel of umpires to assist Jacque with the preparation process and in her development as an umpire.”

On her return from Bangkok, Williams will create history, when she becomes the first female umpire to officiate in the R4Day.

Williams recently made her international debut, when she stood in the first One-day and first Twenty20 Internationals during the Pakistan Women’s Tour of the West Indies.