The International Cricket Council has confirmed the umpires for the semi-finals of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, appointing Javagal Srinath and Andy Pycroft as the umpires for the knockout matches in Kolkata and Mumbai on March 4 and 5 respectively.
Meetings set the stage for two high-stakes encounters — South Africa versus New Zealand at the Eden Gardens and India versus England in Mumbai — with the ICC turning to members of its Emirates Elite Panel to oversee proceedings at the crucial stage of the tournament.
In the first semi-final at the Eden Gardens, Srinath will serve as the match referee when South Africa take on New Zealand on Wednesday. Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will be officiating on the pitch.
Illingworth stood before South Africa’s semi-final against Afghanistan two years agowhile Wharf celebrated New Zealand’s group stage win over the same opposition earlier in the edition.
Nitin Menon was appointed as the third umpire for the match in Kolkata, with Rod Tucker appointed as the fourth umpire.
In the second semi-final, scheduled for Thursday in Mumbai, Pycroft will take on the role of referee for the match between India and England. Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker will be the on-field referees for the match.
Gaffaney also officiated when the two sides met at the same stage in the 2024 tournament. Paleker oversaw England’s two matches in the ongoing competition along with India’s win over the Netherlands in the group stage.
Adrian Holdstock will act as the third umpire in Mumbai, while Paul Reiffel has been appointed as the fourth umpire.
The ICC selections underline its reliance on experienced officials as the tournament enters its final phase. With four teams vying for a place in the final on March 8, the spotlight will not only be on the players but also on the officials tasked with ensuring the semi-finals are conducted to the highest standards of fairness and consistency.
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Semi-Final 1: Kolkata, Wednesday 4 March 2026
- South Africa vs New Zealand
- On-field referees: Richard Illingworth & Alex Wharf
- Third Umpire: Nitin Menon
- Fourth Referee: Rod Tucker
- Referee: Javagal Srinath
Semi-Final 2: Mumbai, Thursday 5 March 2026
- India vs England
- On-field referees: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien Paleker
- Third Referee: Adrian Holdstock
- Fourth Referee: Paul Reiffel
- Referee: Andy Pycroft
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
March 3, 2026 12:19 PM IST
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