KEY POINTS
- Panel includes host nation representatives, former international players, and officials continuing family legacies in umpiring.
- Tournament is highlighted as crucial career springboard for emerging match officials and young cricketers.
ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the officiating team for the upcoming ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup, appointing 17 umpires and four match referees from its Emirates International Panels.
The tournament is set to begin on January 15, 2026, with officials representing 13 different nationalities overseeing the event.
The umpiring panel includes two representatives from the host nation Zimbabwe: former Zimbabwe international cricketer Forster Mutizwa, who played 21 matches across formats for his country, and his compatriot Iknow Chabi.
They are joined by several seasoned officials, including former West Indies player Deighton Butler and England’s Graham Lloyd, who follows in the footsteps of his father, respected former umpire and broadcaster David Lloyd.
The match referees appointed for the tournament are Dean Cosker (England), Prakash Bhatt (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), and Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), each bringing substantial international experience to the competition.
ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta emphasized the dual importance of the U19 World Cup as a showcase for emerging talent both on the field and in officiating.
“The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine.
It is also an invaluable platform for up-and-coming match officials,” Gupta said. “We hope this tournament will serve as a springboard for their careers as they progress in their officiating journeys.”
Full list of appointed officials
The complete list of umpires for the tournament includes:
Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghanistan), Aidan Seaver (Ireland), Cory Black (New Zealand), Deighton Butler (West Indies), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Forster Mutizwa (Zimbabwe), Graham Lloyd (England), Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa), Masudur Mukul (Bangladesh), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Phillip Gillespie (Australia), Prageeth Rambukwella (Sri Lanka), Russell Warren (England), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Shawn Craig (Australia), Virender Sharma (India), and Zahid Bassarath (West Indies).
Match referees
Dean Cosker (England), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), and Prakash Bhatt (India).
