2 Indians included as ICC announces match officials for Men's U19 World Cup 2026
IPL umpire Virendra Sharma has been named for the U19 World Cup.
The ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026, scheduled to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, will take place from January 15 to February 6. Five-time champions India enter as strong contenders under captain Ayush Mhatre, with Vihaan Malhotra as vice-captain.
The squad features exciting talents like 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose explosive batting has already turned heads.
Placed in Group B, India will open their campaign against the USA on January 15. With less than a week remaining before the tournament begins, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a highly experienced and diverse panel of match officials to oversee the matches.
A total of 17 umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels have been selected, representing 13 nationalities. This global representation underscores the ICC’s commitment to nurturing officiating talent alongside the young players.
Standout umpires include India’s Virender Sharma, West Indies’ Deighton Butler, and England’s Graham Lloyd, continuing his father David Lloyd’s legacy in officiating. Other notables are Shawn Craig from Australia, Shaun Haig from New Zealand, and Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa).
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta highlighted the tournament’s broader impact: “This is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars to shine, but also an invaluable platform for up-and-coming match officials. We hope it serves as a springboard for their careers.”
Renowned for launching future legends, the U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams across 41 matches, offering an ideal platform not only for emerging players but also for match officials, including umpires and referees, to perform on the global stage and strengthen their case for promotion to the international and elite panel.
Match officials for the 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).
How many officials have been appointed for the U19 World Cup 2026?
17 umpires and 4 match referees (total 21), representing 13 different nationalities.
Who are the two Indian officials selected for the U19 World Cup 2026?
Umpire Virender Sharma and match referee Prakash Bhatt are the only Indians in the 21-member panel.
Which countries have the highest match officials in the U19 World Cup 2026?
England, with 3 umpires and 1 referee.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.