DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the selection of match officials for the upcoming U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026, which will be hosted in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The event, starting on January 15, will feature 17 umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees, representing 13 nations.
The umpiring panel boasts noteworthy names, including two officials from Zimbabwe, Forster Mutizwa and Iknow Chabi. Mutizwa, a former international cricketer, will bring his on-field experience to the officiating team. The roster also includes experienced figures like Deighton Butler from the West Indies and England's Graham Lloyd, who continues the legacy of his father, David Lloyd.
The refereeing team comprises Dean Cosker from England, Prakash Bhatt from India, Graeme Labrooy from Sri Lanka, and Neeyamur Rahul from Bangladesh. Each brings a wealth of international experience to the tournament.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta emphasized the dual opportunity presented by the tournament for both rising cricket stars and emerging match officials. Gupta expressed hope that the event will serve as a career springboard for the selected officials.
The full list of umpires includes representatives from Afghanistan, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, and India.