Match officials named for 2026 T20 World Cup group stage

In total, 24 officials will be on-field umpires and six will be match referees, with many of those appointed having extensive experience. The officials for the Super Eights and knockout stages will be announced in due course.

Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will officiate as on-field umpires for the opening match between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhala Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The match marks Knights’ first appearance at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and Dharmasena continues to build on his extensive tournament experience.

A member of Sri Lanka’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup-winning team in 1996, Dharmasena has officiated 37 matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the 2016 and 2022 finals, making him the fourth most umpires in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Knights will reach a significant milestone in the Group A clash, officiating his 50th T20 International match as an on-field umpire.

On the opening day in Kolkata, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will take charge of the Group C match between Scotland and West Indies. Menon was part of the on-field umpire team for the first semi-final of the 2024 men's tournament.

The T20 World Cup was between Afghanistan and South Africa, and Nogajski refereed four group matches in the previous edition, including India's match against the USA.

India and the USA will meet later in Mumbai on February 7, with Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker appointed as on-field umpires.

Tucker leads the list of officials who have officiated in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, having officiated 46 matches so far, and is set to score his half-century during the tournament. The Australian will also officiate matches including England vs Nepal, India vs Namibia and South Africa vs UAE.

Chris Gaffney and Richard Illingworth, who officiated together in the 2024 final, will reunite for the Pool B clash between Australia and Ireland on February 11. Illingworth will also be on the field alongside Dharmasena for the crucial group stage match between India and Pakistan in Colombo on February 15.

Match officials for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Match referees:
Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugal, 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, Le Ruddien Razski, Le Ruddien Rasliefza Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri, Asif Yaqoob.

(ICC)