The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled the complete list of match officials for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, confirming the names on Friday, January 30. As the global tournament approaches, the announcement clarifies the experienced personnel who will oversee proceedings during the group stage. In total, 30 officials have been appointed, including 24 on-field umpires and six match referees.
The ICC also clarified that appointments for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be announced at a later date. Among the selected officials, Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon are the only two representatives from India in the elite panel. Their inclusion highlights India’s growing presence in international officiating.
The opening match of the tournament, featuring Pakistan and the Netherlands at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground, will be officiated by Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights. While Dharmasena brings vast experience to the table, the fixture will mark Knights’ debut appearance as an on-field umpire at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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Dharmasena, a member of Sri Lanka’s historic 1996 World Cup-winning squad, continues to cement his legacy as one of the most seasoned officials in the game. The former international cricketer has now officiated in 37 T20 World Cup matches, including the finals in 2016 and 2022, placing him fourth on the all-time list for tournament appearances.
The ICC has announced the match officials for the group stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 🏏#ICC #T20WorldCup #T20WC2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/BGveGLtMA7
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) January 30, 2026
For Knights, the Group A clash will also be special as it represents his 50th T20 International as an on-field umpire. On the tournament’s opening day in Kolkata, Nitin Menon will stand alongside Sam Nogajski for the Group C encounter between Scotland and West Indies. Menon was part of the on-field panel during the first semi-final of the 2024 edition between Afghanistan and South Africa, while Nogajski officiated several group-stage games in the previous tournament, including India’s meeting with the USA.
India’s Group A clash against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai will be officiated by Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker. Tucker currently leads the chart for most matches officiated in T20 World Cup history with 46 appearances and is set to cross the 50-match milestone during the 2026 edition. He will also officiate marquee fixtures such as England versus Nepal, India against Namibia, and South Africa versus the UAE.
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Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, who officiated together in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, will reunite for Australia’s Group B match against Ireland on February 11. Illingworth is also scheduled to officiate the much-anticipated India versus Pakistan group-stage clash in Colombo on February 15 alongside Kumar Dharmasena, adding further gravitas to the blockbuster encounter. With a strong mix of experience and consistency, the ICC’s officiating panel is well-equipped to handle the intensity and scrutiny that comes with a global T20 tournament.
