Umpires for T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals announced; Know here
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The T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals will be played on March 4 & 5.
The knockout stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set with four heavyweights ready to battle for a place in the final. The winners of the two semi-finals will advance to the grand finale on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the semifinal clashes on March 4 and 5, the ICC has announced an elite panel of officials for the high profile clashes.
The first semi-final will see South Africa take on New Zealand on March 4 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, also starting at 7:00 PM IST. Then, the defending champions India will face England in the second semi-final on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match will begin at 7:00 PM IST. The fixture is a repeat of the 2024 semi-final and promises another blockbuster showdown.
Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf to officiate semifinal 1, while Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker take charge of semifinal 2
English Duo Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf have been appointed to officiate as on-field umpires for the first semi-final match between South Africa and New Zealand on Wednesday, March 4, at the Eden Gardens. Richard Illingworth officiated in South Africa’s T20 World Cup semi-final match against Afghanistan two years ago.
Alex Wharf, on the other hand, was appointed to officiate in the capacity of an on-field umpire in New Zealand’s match against the same opponents in the 2026 tournament group stage. Indian umpire Nitin Menon has been appointed to officiate in the capacity of third umpire in Kolkata, whereas Rod Tucker and Javagal Srinath have been appointed as fourth umpire and match referee, respectively.
Kiwi official Chris Gaffaney and South African Allahuddien Paleker will be the on-field umpires for the second semi-final match of the tournament, which will be played on the 5th of March. Gaffaney was also the umpire of the match when the two teams faced off against each other at the same stage of the 2024 edition of the tournament.
On the other hand, Paleker has officiated two of England’s matches, as well as India’s match against the Netherlands, in the ongoing tournament. Along with the duo, Adrian Holdstock (third umpire), Paul Reiffel (fourth umpire), and Andy Pycroft (match referee) will be present for the match, which will be played in Mumbai.
Umpires for Semi Final 1 – South Africa vs New Zealand, Kolkata, Wednesday 4 March 2026
- On-field Umpries: Richard Illingworth & Alex Wharf
- Third Umpire: Nitin Menon
- Fourth Umpire: Rod Tucker
- Referee: Javagal Srinath
Umpires for Semi Final 2- India vs England, Mumbai, Thursday 5 March 2026
- On-field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien Paleker
- Third Umpire: Adrian Holdstock
- Fourth Umpire: Paul Reiffel
- Referee: Andy Pycroft
Who are the on-field umpires for the first semi-final in Kolkata?
Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will officiate the South Africa vs New Zealand clash.
Who will umpire the India vs England semi-final in Mumbai?
Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker have been appointed as on-field umpires.
Where will the T20 World Cup 2026 final be played?
The final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8.
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Vishwajit Sawant is a sports content writer with two years of experience who believes in writing that feels honest, simple, and easy to read. He enjoys breaking down sporting moments into stories readers can genuinely connect with, without relying on fancy vocabulary. His work spans cricket, football, basketball, tennis, and Formula 1, with a focus on match previews, reviews, and reports. Vishwajit believes good content doesn’t need to be loud — it just needs to leave a subtle impact.