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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the distinguished panel of match officials who will oversee the League Round of the 13th edition of the ODI World Cup set to unfold in India. A total of 20 match officials have been selected for this high-profile event, featuring a blend of seasoned veterans and promising talents in the umpiring fraternity.
Sixteen umpires have been entrusted with officiating duties for this prestigious tournament. Among them, all 12 members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires have been enlisted. Additionally, four accomplished umpires from the ICC Emerging Umpire Panel have been included in this esteemed roster.
The illustrious names on this list include Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shaid, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson, and Paul Wilson.
This seasoned group of officials comprises three of the four umpires who officiated the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 final at Lord’s – Dharmasena, Erasmus, and Tucker. The only absence from that quartet is Aleem Dar, who stepped down from the Elite Panel in March of the current year.
Complementing the umpire lineup, the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees boasts an impressive quartet of former international cricketers, including Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Javagal Srinath.
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The tournament opener, scheduled for October 5 in Ahmedabad, will be officiated by Javagal Srinath, who will oversee the clash between last edition’s finalists, England and New Zealand. Nitin Menon and Kumar Dharmasena will serve as the standing umpires, with Paul Wilson occupying the role of TV umpire and Saikat assuming fourth umpire duties.
While the match officials have been appointed for the entire League segment of the tournament, the selection for the semi-finals and the grand final will be announced in due course.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, expressed his satisfaction with the panel, emphasizing the need for high-performing individuals at every level to deliver an event of this magnitude. He praised the match officials for their skills, experience, and world-class standards, asserting that the ICC had assembled an exceptional group for the World Cup.
Sean Easey, ICC Manager – Umpires and Referees, echoed the sentiments, acknowledging the challenging task ahead for this elite group and expressing confidence in their ability to perform their duties with excellence. He wished them the best of luck, emphasizing that this World Cup promises to be a memorable event with the global cricketing community’s eyes fixed firmly upon it.
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