Match Officials Announced for ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026
Match Officials for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026
On Thursday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the match officials for the upcoming ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026, scheduled to commence on January 15. A total of 17 umpires and four match referees have been selected from the Emirates ICC International Panels, representing over 13 nationalities for this prestigious tournament.
Among the appointed officials are two representatives from the host nation, Zimbabwe. Former player Forster Mutizwa will officiate alongside fellow Zimbabwean Iknow Chabi. The panel also features seasoned umpires, including Deighton Butler from the West Indies and Graham Lloyd from England. The referees include Dean Cosker (England), Prakash Bhatt (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), and Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh).
A Platform for Emerging Talent
Sanjog Gupta, the CEO of ICC, emphasized the significance of the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup, stating, "This tournament presents a fantastic opportunity for emerging talents in cricket to showcase their skills, while also serving as a vital recognition system for aspiring match officials. We anticipate that this will act as a launching pad for their officiating careers."
Tournament Details
The ICC Men's Under-19 ODI Cricket World Cup 2026 will take place from January 15 to February 6 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, featuring young cricketers from around the world who will aim to make their mark on the international stage.
Complete List of Match Officials
The following is the list of match officials for the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026:
Umpires: Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghanistan), Aidan Seaver (Ireland), Cory Black (New Zealand), Deighton Butler (West Indies), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Forster Mutizwa (Zimbabwe), Graham Lloyd (England), Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa), Masudur Mukul (Bangladesh), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Prageeth Rambukwella (Sri Lanka), Russell Warren (England), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Shawn Craig (Australia), Virender Sharma (India), Zahid Bassarath (West Indies).
Referees: Dean Cosker (England), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), Prakash Bhatt (India).