ICC Announces Match Officials for T20 World Cup 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the match officials for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held from 7 February to 8 March.

A total of 24 umpires have been appointed as on-field officials, while six officials will serve as match referees during the group stage of the tournament. The officials for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be announced later.

The tournament will open with Pakistan taking on the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo. Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will officiate the match as on-field umpires.

The opener will mark Wayne Knights’ first appearance at a Men’s T20 World Cup. Dharmasena, meanwhile, continues to add to his extensive experience at the tournament.

A member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 Men’s Cricket World Cup-winning team, Dharmasena has officiated in 37 matches at the Men’s T20 World Cup, including the finals in 2016 and 2022. He currently ranks fourth on the all-time list for most matches officiated in the competition.

Knights will also reach a personal milestone during the match, as it will be his 50th T20 International as an umpire.

On the opening day in Kolkata, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will officiate the Group C match between Scotland and the West Indies.

Menon was part of the on-field umpiring team for the first semi-final of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup between Afghanistan and South Africa. Nogajski officiated four group-stage matches at the previous edition, including India’s match against the United States.

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

Rod Tucker, who holds the record for the most ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearances with 46 matches, is set to officiate his 50th match during the tournament. The Australian umpire will also oversee matches including England vs Nepal, India vs Namibia, and South Africa vs the United Arab Emirates.

Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, who officiated together in the final of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, will reunite for the Group B match between Australia and Ireland on 11 February.

Illingworth will also officiate alongside Dharmasena in the high-profile group-stage clash between India and Pakistan in Colombo on 15 February.

Match Referees for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (Group Stage)

On-Field Umpires