The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the distinguished panel of match officials who will preside over the League Round of the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup hosted in India. For the 13th edition of this prestigious tournament, the ICC has appointed a total of 16 umpires. This elite group comprises all 12 members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and an additional four officials from the ICC Emerging Umpire Panel.
The accomplished umpires 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.
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This roster boasts significant experience, with three of the four umpires who officiated the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 final at Lord’s being part of this elite group. The trio of Dharmasena, Erasmus, and Tucker will once again play pivotal roles in ensuring the tournament’s smooth functioning, with Aleem Dar being the only member absent, having stepped down from the Elite Panel earlier this year.
Complementing the impressive umpire lineup is the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, consisting of former international cricketers Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Javagal Srinath.
Javagal Srinath has the honor of officiating in the tournament opener, a highly anticipated clash between England and New Zealand on October 5th in Ahmedabad. He will be joined by Nitin Menon and Kumar Dharmasena as the standing umpires, with Paul Wilson serving as the TV umpire and Saikat taking on the role of the fourth umpire.
While these officials have been named for the League segment of the World Cup, selections for the semi-finals and final will be announced in due course.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, expressed his confidence in the assembled team, stating, “To deliver an event of this magnitude, you require high-performing individuals at every level.” He applauded the ICC’s rigorous selection process and acknowledged the development of high-quality match officials across the game.
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Sean Easey, ICC Manager – Umpires and Referees, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the significance of the event and the global cricketing community’s attention it will attract. He expressed his confidence in the officials, affirming that they are well-prepared for the challenging job ahead and wished them success in what promises to be a memorable World Cup. The stage is set for an extraordinary tournament with these capable individuals ensuring its smooth operation.
