The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the roster of match officials designated for the much-awaited T20 World Cup 2024 set to take place across the USA and West Indies. In a remarkable milestone for cricket’s global expansion, this edition will see a total of 20 umpires and six match referees overseeing the action-packed month-long tournament commencing this June.
Starring among the elite list of umpires are Richard Kettleborough, Richard Illingworth, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, and Paul Reiffel—all of whom are no strangers to the spotlight of major cricket finals. The experienced duo of Kettleborough and Illingworth recently took charge of the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup final between cricketing giants India and Australia in Ahmedabad. The previous T20 World Cup final also featured the seasoned officials Dharmasena, Gaffaney, and Reiffel.
This bond of excellence isn’t limited to the international scene alone; it’s bolstered by the vitality of India’s homegrown talent as two Indian umpires are also set to don the prestigious role in the upcoming games.
In expressing his sentiments regarding the selection, ICC General Manager – Cricket, Wasim Khan, conveyed both pride and confidence, “We are proud to announce our lineup of match referees and umpires for the historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. We have a blend of highly experienced match officials and those who have excelled due to their strong and unwavering performances. Furthermore, our pathway programme continues to ensure the growth and emergence of top-notch match officials within the sport.”
Breaking new ground, the T20 World Cup 2024 will be the largest iteration yet, featuring 20 teams and spanning 55 matches across 28 days of intense competition—the biggest T20 World Cup ever.
“With such a broad scale and an extensive schedule, we are delighted with the team we’ve brought together. We have full confidence that our officials will deliver impeccable performances befitting the grandeur of this tournament. We extend to them our best wishes for a successful and thrilling tournament,” Wasim Khan further added.
The full list of umpires at this majestic cricketing event includes Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Allahudien Paleker, Richard Kettleborough, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, Ahsan Raza, Rashid Riaz, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Shahid Saikat, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson, and Asif Yaqoob.
In similar stead, the match referees’ panel features the expertise of David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Javagal Srinath. These seasoned professionals will be tasked with the smooth governance of matches and ensuring the spirit of cricket prevails throughout the massive event.
Undoubtedly, the ICC’s selection of match officials reflects its commitment to upholding the highest standards of fairness and integrity in the sport. The convergence of experience and emerging talent among umpires and match referees is poised to ensure the T20 World Cup 2024’s success, as the sport’s stars rally on the field to construct a narrative of cricket that promises to resonate throughout the annals of its rich history.
