The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the appointment of 20 match officials for the league stage of the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. However, officials for the semi-finals and final matches will be named later during the tournament.
These 20 match officials consist of 16 umpires and four match referees. Among them, 12 are part of the prestigious Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires. Some of these notable umpires include Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Marais Erasmus (South Africa), and others.
The remaining four officials are from the ICC Emerging Umpire Panel, which includes individuals like Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh) and Paul Wilson (Australia).
JUST IN: Match officials for #CWC23 announced 👇
— ICC (@ICC) September 8, 2023
It’s worth noting that three umpires who officiated the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, namely Dharmasena, Erasmus, and Tucker, are part of this experienced group. Aleem Dar, who was in the 2019 final, is not participating in this World Cup after stepping down from the Elite Panel earlier this year.
The Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees for the tournament includes Jeff Crowe (New Zealand), Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Richie Richardson (West Indies), and Javagal Srinath (India), all of whom are former international players.
The officials for the tournament opener between England and New Zealand on October 5th have been named, with Menon and Dharmasena as on-field umpires, Paul Wilson as the TV umpire, and Sharfuddoula as the fourth umpire. Pycroft will serve as the match referee.
ICC Senior Manager
According to Sean Easey, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees, this group is well-prepared for the challenging task ahead, considering the immense scrutiny they will face during the World Cup.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, expressed confidence in the skill, experience, and world-class standards that these officials will bring to the tournament. He also commended the inclusion of ICC Emerging Panel members, highlighting the organization’s commitment to nurturing and promoting high-quality match officials.