The ICC has announced the match officials for the group stage of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with 24 on-field umpires and six match referees appointed. Officials for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be announced later.
Opening Match Appointments:
-
Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will serve as on-field umpires for the opening Group A match between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
-
The fixture marks Knights’ first appearance at a Men’s T20 World Cup, while Dharmasena, a member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning side, continues to build on his extensive tournament experience, having officiated 37 T20 World Cup matches, including the finals in 2016 and 2022.
Other Key Fixtures:
-
In Kolkata, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will umpire the Group C clash between Scotland and the West Indies. Menon was part of the on-field umpiring team for the 2024 semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa, while Nogajski officiated four group matches at the previous edition.
-
Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker will umpire the India vs USA match in Mumbai on 7 February. Tucker, with 46 T20 World Cup matches officiated, is set to reach his 50th appearance during the tournament.
-
Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, who officiated the 2024 final together, will reunite for the Group B clash between Australia and Ireland on 11 February.
-
Illingworth will also be on-field alongside Dharmasena for the high-profile India vs Pakistan match in Colombo on 15 February.
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
The ICC highlighted the experience and expertise among the appointed officials, ensuring high-quality officiating throughout the group stage.
