KEY POINTS
- Match referee Ali Naqvi will oversee all three matches
- ICC Elite Panel umpire Ahsan Raza will lead on-field duties
- Series serves as vital preparation for T20I World Cup
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the panel of match officials for the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Australia, set to be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from January 29 to February 1.
Ali Naqvi, a member of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, will oversee all three fixtures.
The second T20I will be a special occasion for Naqvi, marking his 50th match as a T20I referee, a milestone he will achieve at the same venue where he made his refereeing debut in April 2023.
Elite panel’s Raza to lead umpiring team
The on-field duties will be spearheaded by Ahsan Raza of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, who will stand in the first two matches.
He will be joined by Asif Yaqoob (ICC Emerging Panel) in the opener and by Rashid Riaz (ICC International Panel) in the second game.
For the series finale, Rashid Riaz will move to the on-field role alongside Nasir Hussain (ICC International Panel).
Nasir will begin the series as the third umpire for the first match, with Asif Yaqoob and PCB National Elite Panel’s Tariq Rasheed taking over the third umpire responsibilities for the second and third T20Is, respectively.
Series serves as crucial World Cup prep
The series holds significant importance as a key preparation platform for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
This will be Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since their historic return in 2022 for a full-fledged tour.
They also participated in three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 held in Pakistan.
The Australian squad is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on January 28.
The teams have a closely contested T20I history, with Australia winning 14 of the 28 encounters against Pakistan’s 12, with one tie and one no-result.
Match Officials Line-Up
1st T20I (Jan 29)
On-Field Umpires: Ahsan Raza & Asif Yaqoob
Third Umpire: Nasir Hussain
Fourth Umpire: Rashid Riaz
Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
2nd T20I (Jan 31)
On-Field Umpires: Ahsan Raza & Rashid Riaz
Third Umpire: Asif Yaqoob
Fourth Umpire: Nasir Hussain
Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
3rd T20I (Feb 1)
On-Field Umpires: Rashid Riaz & Nasir Hussain
Third Umpire: Tariq Rasheed
Fourth Umpire: Zulfiqar Jan
Match Referee: Ali Naqvi
