Dubai, January 30, 2026: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the match officials for the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to begin on February 7 in India. Officials for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be named at a later stage.
A total of 24 on-field umpires and six match referees have been appointed for the group-stage fixtures.
For the tournament opener between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo, Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will officiate as on-field umpires. The match will mark Knights’ first appearance at a Men’s T20 World Cup, while Dharmasena continues to build on his extensive experience at ICC events.
A member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team, Dharmasena has officiated in 37 Men’s T20 World Cup matches, including the finals in 2016 and 2022, placing him fourth on the all-time list for matches officiated in the tournament. Knights will also reach a personal milestone, standing in his 50th T20 International during the Group A clash.
On the opening day in Kolkata, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will oversee the Group C encounter 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, while Nogajski officiated four group-stage matches at the previous edition, including India’s fixture against the USA.
Later on February 7, India will take on the USA, with Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker appointed as on-field umpires. Tucker, who tops the list for the most Men’s T20 World Cup appearances with 46 matches, is set to reach his 50th match during the tournament. The Australian umpire will also officiate 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 2024 final, will reunite for the Group B match between Australia and Ireland on February 11. Illingworth will also stand alongside Dharmasena for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan group-stage match in Colombo on February 15.
Match Officials – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Match Referees:
Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson, Javagal Srinath.
Umpires:
Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri and Asif Yaqoob.
The announcement sets the stage for a high-profile tournament, with several experienced officials and notable milestones expected during the group stage.
