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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the list of match officials who will oversee the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, marking an important step in preparations for the global youth event. The tournament, set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe, will feature a multicultural officiating group comprising 18 umpires and four match referees drawn from the Emirates ICC International Panels.
Global representation in the U19 World Cup 2026
The ICC has ensured strong international representation in its officiating appointments, with officials hailing from 13 different countries. This broad mix reflects the governing body’s emphasis on neutrality, experience, and consistency as the world’s best young cricketers prepare to compete on the global stage.
Zimbabwe, the host nation, will be represented by two umpires — Forster Mutizwa and Iknow Chabi. Mutizwa brings valuable on-field insight, having previously played 21 international matches for Zimbabwe across formats. His transition from international cricketer to elite umpire underlines the ICC’s push to involve former players in officiating roles.
Experienced names add credibility to umpiring panel
The umpiring lineup includes several seasoned officials with extensive experience in international and domestic cricket. Former West Indies international Deighton Butler is among the notable appointments, adding a strong cricketing pedigree to the panel. England’s Graham Lloyd has also been selected, continuing a family legacy in officiating, as his father David Lloyd was a respected international umpire before becoming a prominent broadcaster.
Other umpires named for the tournament come from a wide range of Full Member and Associate nations, including Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The ICC believes this balance of backgrounds will help maintain high officiating standards across varied playing conditions.
Match referees bring international oversight
Alongside the umpires, four highly experienced match referees have been appointed to supervise the conduct of matches throughout the competition. England’s Dean Cosker, India’s Prakash Bhatt, Sri Lanka’s Graeme Labrooy, and Bangladesh’s Neeyamur Rahul will take charge of match management, code of conduct matters, and overall operational oversight.
Each referee has previously officiated in ICC tournaments and bilateral series, providing reassurance that the Under-19 World Cup will be governed with professionalism and consistency.
Match officials for U19 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), Phillip Gillespie (Australia), 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)
Also READ: Sri Lanka name strong squad for U19 World Cup 2026, Vimath Dinsara to lead
