Colombo: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the match officials for the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will begin on February 21.
A total of 16 umpires from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and the ICC Emerging Umpires Panel have been appointed for the second phase of the tournament.
They will be supported by four members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, ensuring broad international experience across the Super Eights.
New Zealand take on Pakistan in the first Super 8 clash in Colombo on Saturday.
Rodney Tucker and Paul Reiffel have been appointed as field umpires and Allahuddin Palekar as TV umpire. Sam Nogajski will act as the fourth referee.
When co-hosts Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Kandy on February 28, Tucker will once again be the on-field umpire alongside Nogajski.
Nogajski is scheduled to oversee the England vs Pakistan match on February 24, partnering Nitin Menon as on-field umpire.
South Africa’s Adrian Holdstock is on the Sri Lanka-based judging panel. He stands in for England’s match against Sri Lanka in Kandy on February 22 and against New Zealand five days later.
Palekar and Asif Yakub will be the on-field umpires for the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand clash in Colombo on February 25.
Group 1 kicks off with a high-profile clash between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, a repeat of the 2024 final.
Chris Kafeni, who refereed the final two years ago, will serve as on-field referee alongside Richard Kettleborough. Alex Wharf has been appointed as the TV referee and Chris Brown as the fourth referee.
Gaffney and Wharf will join India in the final Super Eight match between India and West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.
Wharf and Kettleborough will act as on-field umpires during India’s match against Zimbabwe on February 26.
Kumar Dharmasena recently umpired his 50th T20I during Australia’s final group-stage match against Oman.
The former Sri Lankan all-rounder, who was part of the 1996 ODI World Cup-winning team, will host the West Indies v South Africa match on February 26 alongside Shahid Saigam, and South Africa vs Zimbabwe on March 1 with Richard Illingworth.
Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka and Australia to reach the Super Eight round, emerging as one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
Illingworth and Jayaraman Madanagopal will oversee the proceedings when they face the West Indies in Mumbai on February 23.
Match referees
Ranjan Madhugale, Andrew Bycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.
Referees
Rodney Tucker, Paul Reiffel, Allahudian Palekar, Sam Nogajski, Nitin Menon, Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza, Asif Yaqoob, Richard Kettleborough, Chris Gaffane, Alex Wharf, Chris Brown, Richard Illingworth, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Kumar Shahid Saikat.