Faisalabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the umpire and match official appointments for the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, starting on September 12, 2024, in Faisalabad. The tournament will feature top cricketing talent under the guidance of renowned mentors, and officiated by a panel of experienced umpires.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the opening match between Wolves and Panthers will be umpired by former ICC elite panelist Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob from the ICC’s international panel. The Playing Control Team will be led by former Test cricketer Ali Naqvi, alongside Waleed Yaqub and Zulfiqar Jan serving as third and fourth umpires respectively.
The tournament will be enriched by the involvement of cricket stalwarts like Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis, who will mentor the teams. A total of nine umpires including Faisal Aafreedi, Imtiaz Iqbal, Imran Jawed, Nasir Hussain, and Rashid Riaz will oversee the matches, ensuring fair play and adherence to cricketing standards.
Match referees for the tournament will include Bilal Khilji, Iftikhar Ahmed, Iqbal Sheikh, Nadeem Arshad, and Kamran Chaudhry, sharing responsibilities across the games, which are all scheduled at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. The matches are set to begin at 9:30 am and 3:00 pm, with specific assignments outlined for each game, including who will serve as on-field, third, and fourth umpires.
The PCB will announce the umpire and match referee appointments for the three playoffs and the final match closer to those dates.