The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the panel of 15 match officials who will oversee the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9. The tournament will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) across four prestigious venues: Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
This announcement marks a significant step in the preparations for the eight-team competition, as the ICC has carefully selected a team of experienced and elite officials to ensure fair play and adherence to the highest standards of officiating in international cricket.
Kumar Dharmasena to Richard Kettleborough: Key officials for the tournament
The ICC’s panel for the tournament includes 12 umpires and three match referees, featuring some of the most renowned names in international cricket officiating. Among the 12 umpires, six were also part of the officiating team during the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy.
Notably, Richard Kettleborough, who officiated in the final of the 2017 tournament between India and Pakistan, returns to bring his vast experience to the upcoming edition. Other returning umpires from the 2017 Champions Trophy include Chris Gaffaney, Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Illingworth, Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker, all of whom have a wealth of experience in handling high-pressure international fixtures.
Dharmasena, who has officiated in 132 Men’s One Day Internationals (ODIs), will extend his record as the Sri Lankan umpire with the most ODIs officiated. He will be joined by Kettleborough and Illingworth, who both played crucial roles in officiating the final of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup between India and Australia in Ahmedabad.
Their presence ensures that the tournament will be overseen by officials who are accustomed to handling the pressures of global events. The other selected umpires include Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Alex Wharf and Joel Wilson. Each of these umpires brings a unique blend of experience and expertise, having officiated across various ICC tournaments, bilateral series, and domestic competitions worldwide.
Match Officials:Â Umpires:Â Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson.
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Match referees to oversee the tournament
In addition to the umpires, the ICC has appointed three match referees who are members of the prestigious Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. The panel includes David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle and Andrew Pycroft, all of whom have extensive experience in officiating ICC events.
Boon was a part of the officiating team for the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy, while Pycroft also officiated in the same tournament. Madugalle, an esteemed match referee with decades of experience, officiated in the Champions Trophy 2013 final, which saw India emerge as champions. Their collective experience will ensure that the tournament maintains the highest standards of integrity and discipline, further enhancing the credibility of the officiating process.
Match Referees:Â David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft.