The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the names of the match officials and umpires who will officiate in the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
England's Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth will assume the roles of on-field umpires, while Joel Wilson of the West Indies and Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand will serve as TV umpire and fourth umpire, respectively. Andy Pycroft has been appointed as the match referee for the all-important clash.
The final is expected to draw a massive crowd of over 1.3 lakh spectators, including multiple celebrities and dignitaries. India, having defeated Australia in the league stage in Chennai, head into the final with a slight edge over their opponents. India maintained an undefeated streak throughout the league stage, while Australia suffered losses against both India and South Africa. Rohit Sharma's brigade sealed the final berth by securing a comprehensive victory over New Zealand in the World Cup 2023 semi-final in Mumbai on November 15. Australia, on the other hand, faced a challenging encounter in Kolkata before overcoming South Africa in the other semis on November 16.
The appointment of the match officials sets the stage for an blockbuster showdown between two cricketing giants, with India aiming to break their decade-long ICC trophy drought and Australia seeking to extend their record-breaking title count.
Here is the full list of umpires and match officials for the final:
On-field umpires: Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough
Match referee: Andrew Pycroft
Third umpire: Joel Wilson
Fourth umpire: Christopher Gaffaney
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