KEY POINTS
- ICC appoints 30 officials, including 24 umpires and 6 referees, for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- Opening match pairs veteran Kumar Dharmasena with debutant Wayne Knight for a milestone 50th T20I.
- Marquee fixtures like India-Pakistan assigned top umpiring duos, including 2024 final officials.
DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the panel of match officials for the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held across multiple venues in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
A cohort of 30 officials has been appointed for the initial phase, comprising 24 on-field umpires and six match referees. Appointments for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be confirmed following the conclusion of the group matches.
Tournament opener features veteran and debutant
The curtain-raiser in Colombo on February 7, featuring Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, will see a blend of experience and fresh perspective. Seasoned official Kumar Dharmasena of Sri Lanka will be joined by New Zealand’s Wayne Knights, who will be making his Men’s T20 World Cup debut.
Dharmasena, a member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 ODI World Cup-winning squad, brings a wealth of tournament expertise. He has officiated in 37 T20 World Cup matches, including the finals in 2016 and 2022, placing him fourth on the all-time list for the competition. For Knights, the match will also represent a personal milestone, his 50th T20 International as an on-field umpire.
Opening day highlights across venues
In a busy opening day across three host cities, several prominent officials will take the field. In Kolkata, India’s Nitin Menon and Australia’s Sam Nogajski will oversee the Group C match between Scotland and the West Indies. Menon officiated in the first semi-final of the 2024 edition, while Nogajski handled four group matches previously, including India’s encounter with the USA.
Later on February 7 in Mumbai, the clash between India and the USA will be umpired by Australia’s Paul Reiffel and his compatriot Rod Tucker. Tucker, the most experienced official in the tournament’s history with 46 appearances, is poised to reach the landmark of 50 T20 World Cup matches during this event.
Big Clashes Assigned Top Umpiring Duos
The ICC has assigned its most respected umpiring pairs to several key group-stage fixtures. Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, who stood together in the 2024 final, will reunite for the Australia versus Ireland Group B match on February 11.
Furthermore, the marquee group-stage encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Colombo on February 15 will be officiated by two of the game’s most recognised figures: Richard Illingworth and Kumar Dharmasena.
Match Officials for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Match Referees
Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.
Umpires
Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, KNA Padmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri and Asif Yaqoob.
