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ICC Names 21 Officials for 2026 U19 Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe

The International Cricket Council has announced the panel of match officials for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026. A total of 17 umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels have been selected, representing over 13 different nationalities. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta stated the tournament serves as both a platform for young players and a crucial career springboard for emerging officials. The event will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026.

Key Points: ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Match Officials Announced

  • 21 officials appointed
  • 17 umpires, 4 referees
  • Officials from 13 nationalities
  • Tournament starts Jan 15 in Zimbabwe
2 min read

17 umpires and four match referees named for ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026

ICC appoints 17 umpires & 4 referees for U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe. See the full list of officials from 13 nations.

"This ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup is... an invaluable reward system for up-and-coming match officials. - Sanjog Gupta, ICC CEO"

New Delhi, January 8

The International Cricket Council on Thursday announced the list of match officials for the upcoming ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026, which starts on January 15.

A total of 17 umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees have been appointed, with officials from over 13 different nationalities for the upcoming marquee tournament.

The panel will also see two officials from the host nation, Zimbabwe, with former player Forster Mutizwa set to officiate alongside compatriot Iknow Chabi.

The umpiring panel also includes experienced figures, such as former West Indies player Deighton Butler and England's Graham Lloyd.

The four match referees are Dean Cosker of England, Prakash Bhatt of India, Graeme Labrooy of Sri Lanka and Neeyamur Rahul of Bangladesh.

The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said: "This ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine, but it is also an invaluable reward system for up-and-coming match officials.

He added: "We hope that this will be the perfect springboard for their careers as we see them progress in their officiating journeys."

The ICC Men's Under-19 ODI Cricket World Cup 2026 is set to be played from January 15 to February 6 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with young cricketers from all around the globe set to make a case for themselves on the world stage.

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 La Brooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), Prakash Bhatt (India).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Ananya R
Very diverse panel from 13 nationalities! Good to see Zimbabwe getting representation as hosts. Hope the tournament is a success and we discover some future stars. The focus is always on players, but officials have a tough job too.
V
Vikram M
Only one Indian umpire? Virender Sharma is good, but I expected maybe one more from our country given our contribution to the game. Still, it's a global event. Excited to see which young players make a name for themselves!
S
Sarah B
Interesting mix of experienced former players and newer officials. Graham Lloyd and Deighton Butler bring that player's perspective. The ICC CEO is right - this is a fantastic career springboard for umpires and referees as well.
R
Rohit P
Heartening to see officials from Associate nations like Netherlands (Nitin Bathi) and Ireland here. Broadens the pool. Hope the Indian colts have a great tournament! The future of cricket looks bright with such events.
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Kavya N
Good step by ICC. The pressure on officials in these high-stakes youth tournaments is immense. One poor decision can change a youngster's career trajectory. Wishing them all the very best for fair and consistent officiating. 🤞

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