Only 2 Indians included as ICC reveals 16 umpires and 4 match referees for upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on September 8 (Friday) announced the match officials for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India.

SportsTak

• Fri • 08 Sep 2023

Highlights:

ICC announced a 16-member match umpiring panel for 2023 ODI World Cup.Nitin Menon is part of the umpire panel while Javagal Srinath headlines the list of four match referees.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on September 8 (Friday) announced the match officials for the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India. In a panel that consisted of 16 umpires and four match referees, only two Indians managed to make an entry to the list. Nitin Menon is part of the umpire panel while Javagal Srinath headlines the list of four match referees.

List of 16 umpires selected for the 2023 ODI World Cup: Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Michael Gough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Joel Wilson (West Indies), Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh), Paul Wilson (Australia), Alex Wharf (England) and Chris Brown (New Zealand).

List of 4 match referees selected for the 2023 ODI World Cup: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Richie Richardson (West Indies) and Javagal Srinath (India).

"We are pleased to announce the match officials who will be officiating at the biggest ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup ever," said Sean Easey, who is the ICC Senior Manager for Umpires and Referees.

"This group is the very best from around the world and we believe that they are ready to perform what will be a challenging job with the eyes of the global cricketing community focussed on every decision.

"We are confident that they will do an excellent job and wish them all the best of luck for what will surely be a World Cup to remember," he added.

The ICC also announced the match officials for the opening match of the quadrennial competition. India's Nitin Menon and Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena will be the on-field umpires for the defending champions England's match against New Zealand.

Along with Menon and Dharmasena, Paul Wilson has been named as the TV umpire for the tournament opener while Sharfuddoula will be the fourth umpire and Pycroft will be the match referee.