Harare/Windhoek : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a strong and diverse panel of match officials for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, set to be staged across Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.
According to an official release by the ICC, a total of 21 match officials, including 17 umpires and four match referees, have been appointed for the tournament. The panel represents 13 different nationalities, underlining the global nature of the youth World Cup and the ICC’s emphasis on neutral and experienced officiating.
Among the umpires named are Virender Sharma (India), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Graham Lloyd (England), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa) and Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), alongside officials from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands.
The match referees panel features seasoned names such as Dean Cosker (England), Graeme La Brooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh) and Prakash Bhatt (India).
“The appointed officials bring a wealth of international experience and strong development credentials,” the ICC noted, adding that the group blends elite-level exposure with officials who have progressed through ICC’s high-performance pathways (ICC).
The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has long been a launching pad for future international stars, and the governing body believes that a high-quality officiating team is crucial to maintaining fairness and professionalism at the junior level.
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