The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the comprehensive list of match officials for the group stage of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The panel includes 24 on-field umpires and six match referees, all of whom bring extensive international experience to the tournament. The ICC noted that official appointments for the high-stakes Super Eight and knockout rounds will be announced later.
ICC announces officials for 2026 T20 World Cup, two Indians included
Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon are the notable Indian representatives on the 30-member list. For the tournament's opening clash between Pakistan and the Netherlands at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club, the ICC has appointed Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights as the on-field officials. While this match marks Knights’ debut in a T20 World Cup, it also serves as a big milestone for him as his 50th T20I as an on-field umpire.
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Kumar Dharmasena, a key member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning squad, continues to be a prominent figure in global officiating. With 37 T20 World Cup matches under his belt—including the 2016 and 2022 finals—he currently ranks fourth on the all-time list for most matches officiated in the tournament's history.
Wayne Knights is set to celebrate a major career milestone during the Group A clash between Pakistan and the Netherlands, which will mark his 50th T20 International as an on-field umpire. Meanwhile, the tournament's opening day in Kolkata will see Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski take charge of the Group C fixture between Scotland and the West Indies. Both officials bring significant pedigree to the event; Menon was an on-field umpire for the 2024 semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa, while Nogajski handled several key group matches in the previous edition, including India’s encounter with the USA.
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The clash between India and the USA is scheduled for February 7 in Mumbai, with Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker appointed as the on-field umpires. Tucker, a veteran of the game, currently holds the record for the most T20 World Cup matches officiated at 46 and is expected to reach the landmark of 50 appearances during this tournament. In addition to the India-USA game, the Australian official will oversee several prominent matchups, including England vs. Nepal and South Africa vs. the UAE.
As the group stage progresses, fans will see several high-profile officiating reunions. Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, the pair who stood in the 2024 World Cup final, will team up again for the Australia vs. Ireland match on February 11. Illingworth is also slated for one of the biggest assignments of the tournament, joining Kumar Dharmasena to officiate the intense India-Pakistan rivalry in Colombo on February 15.
Match Officials at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Match Referees:
Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson, Javagal Srinath.
Umpires:
Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, KNA Padmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri, Asif Yaqoob.