The match officials for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group stages have been confirmed. Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid will serve as the on‑field umpires for the highly anticipated opening game between Pakistan and New Zealand on 19 February in Karachi. This fixture will mark the Champions Trophy’s return after an eight-year gap, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling tournament.
The Englishman Richard Kettleborough and Bangladesh’s Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid will oversee the on‑field action, with Joel Wilson serving as the TV umpire and Alex Wharf as the fourth umpire. Andrew Pycroft will act as the match referee for this crucial clash.
The group stage will feature a global panel of match officials overseeing the high‑stakes encounters. Below is the full schedule for the opening phase of the tournament:
| Date | Match | On‑Field Umpires | TV Umpire | Fourth Umpire | Referee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 February | Pakistan v New Zealand | Richard Kettleborough, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid | Joel Wilson | Alex Wharf | Andrew Pycroft |
| 20 February | Bangladesh v India | Adrian Holdstock, Paul Reiffel | Richard Illingworth | Michael Gough | David Boon |
| 21 February | Afghanistan v South Africa | Alex Wharf, Rodney Tucker | Richard Kettleborough | Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid | Ranjan Madugalle |
| 22 February | Australia v England | Joel Wilson, Chris Gaffaney | Kumar Dharmasena | Ahsan Raza | Andrew Pycroft |
| 23 February | Pakistan v India | Paul Reiffel, Richard Illingworth | Michael Gough | Adrian Holdstock | David Boon |
| 24 February | Bangladesh v New Zealand | Ahsan Raza, Kumar Dharmasena | Rodney Tucker | Joel Wilson | Ranjan Madugalle |
| 25 February | Australia v South Africa | Richard Kettleborough, Chris Gaffaney | Alex Wharf | Kumar Dharmasena | Andrew Pycroft |
| 26 February | Afghanistan v England | Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Joel Wilson | Ahsan Raza | Rodney Tucker | Ranjan Madugalle |
| 27 February | Pakistan v Bangladesh | Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock | Paul Reiffel | Richard Illingworth | David Boon |
| 28 February | Afghanistan v Australia | Alex Wharf, Kumar Dharmasena | Chris Gaffaney | Richard Kettleborough | Andrew Pycroft |
| 1 March | South Africa v England | Rodney Tucker, Ahsan Raza | Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid | Joel Wilson | Ranjan Madugalle |
| 2 March | New Zealand v India | Michael Gough, Richard Illingworth | Adrian Holdstock | Paul Reiffel | David Boon |
As announced earlier, no match official from India will be present in the competition.
As the tournament details get finalized, cricket fans can expect an intense level of action throughout the event. The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to provide thrilling cricket, with top teams from around the world battling for the prestigious title.