ICC announces umpires, match officials for T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals: Check full list

The International Cricket Board (ICC) has announced the elite panel of match referees and umpires for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals which are scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai on March 4 and March 5 respectively.

For the first semifinal between Aiden Markram's South Africa and Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand, Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will be the on-field umpires at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. In the last edition when South Africa played the semifinal and outclassed Afghanistan, Illingworth was one of the on-field umpires. 

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Nitin Menon and Rod Tucker will be the third and fourth umpire whereas Javagal Srinath will serve as match referee.

For the second semifinal between co-hosts India led by Suryakumar Yadav and Harry Brook’s England, Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Palekar will take over the on-field umpiring duties at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

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In the previous edition's semifinal between India and England on West Indies soil, Gaffaney was an on-field umpire. Palekar has officiated in England's two games in current edition and the clash between India and Netherlands in Ahmedabad.

Adrian Holdstock will be the third umpire, Paul Reiffel will take over as fourth umpire whereas Andy Pycroft will oversee the proceedings as match referee.

New Zealand’s chance to break the jinx

An unbeaten South Africa will face the Kiwis in Kolkata. New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a T20 World Cup game. They faced a comprehensive defeat in the initial group stage as well. On the other hand, Markram’s men have reached the semifinal unbeaten. They even humbled the Indian team, putting their semifinal qualification chances in jeopardy for a while. 

Another IND vs ENG semifinal clash

This is the third consecutive time India and England will play in a T20 World Cup semifinal. In T20 World Cup 2022, England humbled India with a 10-wicket victory in Adelaide. In the 2024 edition, India returned the favour with a with a 63-run win in Georgetown.