DUBAI: The ICC has announced the appointment of 16 umpires and four match referees for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
The selection of a 20-strong group for the Round 1 and Super 12 stages effectively means that, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be neutral umpires for all matches of the 16-team tournament, running from 17 October to 14 November.
Three of the 16 umpires – Aleem Dar, Marais Erasmus, and Rod Tucker – will be officiating in their sixth T20 World Cup. The officiating personnel for the semi-finals and final of the tournament will be named in due course.
The first match of the tournament, between Oman and Papua New Guinea on 17 October, will be officiated by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena, who was one of the on-field umpires for the final of the Cricket World Cup 2019, alongside New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney.
Another Sri Lankan Ranjan Madugalle will be the match referee, with Richard Kettleborough the TV umpire and Ahsan Raza the fourth official.
The rematch of the 2016 final between England and the West Indies – a Super 12 Group A clash – will be overseen by Dar and Erasmus, with Australia’s David Boon the match referee and Chris Brown on TV duty.
Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager Umpires and Referees, “We are delighted to be able to call on some of the world’s top officials for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a group of 16 umpires and four match referees.”
“Our aim is always to appoint the best possible officials, and we have also been able to appoint neutral umpires and referees in all matches. We wish them all the very best, and we are confident they will ensure the smooth conduct of matches.”
Full list of match officials
Match Referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Javagal Srinath.
Umpires: Chris Brown, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Paul Wilson.
