NEW DELHI: The ICC on Friday announced the match officials for the World Cup opener between England and New Zealand on October 5.
Nitin Menon and Kumar Dharmasena from India will serve as the on-field umpires, while former pace bowler Javagal Srinath will take on the role of match referee.
Paul Wilson will be the TV umpire, and Saikat will serve as the fourth umpire for the tournament opener, which will be held in Ahmedabad.
For the 13th edition of the tournament, a total of sixteen umpires have been selected, comprising all twelve members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and four individuals from the ICC Emerging Umpire Panel.
The experienced group includes three of the four umpires who officiated the 2019 final at Lord's: Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, and Rod Tucker. The only one missing from that quartet is Aleem Dar, who stepped down from the Elite Panel in March of this year.
The Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees will be represented at the event by a quartet of former international cricketers: Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Srinath.
These match officials have been appointed for the entire League segment of the tournament, with selections for the semi-finals and final to be announced at a later date.
Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, said: “To deliver an event of this magnitude you require high performing individuals at every level.
"The ICC Elite panel of umpires, referees, and emerging group of umpires involved will bring immense skills, experience and world class standards to this World Cup. We are delighted with the group that we have assembled for this tournament”.
UMPIRES
Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shaid, Rod Tucker, Alex Wharf, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
