ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the panel of match officials for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023–25.
The eagerly awaited clash will see South Africa take on Australia at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground from 11 to 15 June.
New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney and England’s Richard Illingworth have been appointed as the on-field umpires for the high-profile contest.
Illingworth continues to solidify his reputation as a key figure in major Test fixtures. This final will mark his third consecutive WTC final appearance, making him the only umpire to have officiated on-field in all three finals since the championship’s inception.
The experienced English official is also the current ICC Umpire of the Year, having won the prestigious David Shepherd Trophy for a record fourth time in 2024.
Gaffaney, a regular presence in ICC knockout fixtures, previously partnered with Illingworth during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final and also officiated in the WTC 2023 final between India and Australia.
Seasoned umpires
Fellow Englishman Richard Kettleborough, a seasoned umpire with numerous ICC finals to his name, has been named the TV umpire for this year’s final. He also fulfilled the same role in the 2021 WTC final between India and New Zealand.
India’s Nitin Menon has been appointed as the fourth umpire, making his WTC final debut in this role. Menon previously served as the TV umpire during the 2021 T20 World Cup final.
Veteran Indian pacer-turned-match official Javagal Srinath has been selected as the match referee for the final.
ICC Chair Jay Shah commended the wealth of experience and consistency the appointed officials bring and expressed full confidence in their ability to uphold the highest standards of the game.
“We are pleased to confirm an experienced panel of match officials for the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, which concludes what has been a highly competitive two-year cycle of Test cricket around the globe,” Shah said.
“We aim to appoint the most qualified and capable officials for every match, and we’re confident they will deliver to the highest standard. On behalf of the ICC, I extend my best wishes to them and hope they enjoy the occasion,” he added.
