The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced match officials for the Group Stage of the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka starting on 7th February. Together, a total of 24 on-field umpires and 6 match referees will officiate these matches.
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Match referees for T20 World Cup 2026 group stage
| Referee Name | Notable Background |
| Dean Cosker | Experienced international referee |
| David Gilbert | Seasoned match official |
| Ranjan Madugalle | Sri Lankan legend, long-time ICC referee |
| Andrew Pycroft | Zimbabwean with extensive experience |
| Richie Richardson | West Indies batting great |
| Javagal Srinath | Former Indian pacer, elite referee |
This panel ensures authoritative oversight across venues in both host nations during the league phase.
Full list of on-field umpires for group stage
The 24 on-field umpires feature a mix of veterans and newcomers from diverse cricketing nations.
- Roland Black
- Chris Brown
- Kumar Dharmasena
- Chris Gaffaney
- Adrian Holdstock
- Richard Illingworth
- Richard Kettleborough
- Wayne Knights
- Donovan Koch
- Jayaraman Madanagopal
- Nitin Menon
- Sam Nogajski
- KNA Padmanabhan
- Allahuddien Paleker
- Ahsan Raza
- Leslie Reifer
- Paul Reiffel
- Langton Rusere
- Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid
- Gazi Sohel
- Rodney Tucker
- Alex Wharf
- Raveendra Wimalasiri
- Asif Yaqoob
Highlight appointments and big-match duties
Opening-day fixtures and special milestones
Umpiring for the first match of the tournament is Kumar Dharmasena (1996 ODI World Cup Champion with Sri Lanka) and Wayne Knights. They will officiate the Group A clash of Pakistan vs. the Netherlands in Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club on February 7th. Knights will be making his T20 World Cup debut in this match and will also be working his 50th T20I match as an on-field umpire.
Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski in Kolkata
Sam Nogajski and Nitin Menon have been appointed to officiate the Group C match between Scotland and the West Indies for the opening day of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Kolkata.
India vs USA and other key group games
Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker are in charge of the match between India and the USA on February 7 in Mumbai. Tucker, with 46 matches in the T20 World Cup, is hoping for his 50th during this tournament and will also umpire other matches, England vs Nepal, India vs Namibia, and South Africa vs UAE.
Umpires for the India vs Pakistan
Richard Illingworth and Kumar Dharmasena will be the umpires for the showdown between India and Pakistan in Colombo on February 15. Illingworth will be paired with Chris Gaffaney for the final of 2026 and will also be umpiring for Australia vs Ireland on February 11.
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Note on Super Eight and knockout appointments
Officials for the Super Eights and knockout appointments will be confirmed by the ICC once performances have been evaluated and a schedule has been determined. Using a phased approach allows greater flexibility for the high-stakes portions of the tournament at the end of the tournament.