By Anas Ahmed 
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the match officials for the highly anticipated ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19 to March 9.
A team of 12 umpires and three match referees has been selected to oversee the eight-team tournament, which will be played across Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
Elite Panel of Umpires Set for Champions Trophy Duty
The Champions Trophy 2025 will see a mix of experienced and emerging umpires officiating across the tournament. Richard Kettleborough, a veteran of 108 ODIs, returns for another edition after standing in the 2017 final in England.
Joining him are Chris Gaffaney, Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Illingworth, Paul Reiffel, and Rod Tucker, all of whom were part of the umpiring panel in the 2017 edition.
Additionally, umpires Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Alex Wharf, and Joel Wilson—who officiated in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India—will also be part of the elite group for this prestigious event.
Veteran Match Referees Appointed
The tournament will be overseen by three highly experienced match referees, all part of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel:
- David Boon – Referee in the 2017 Champions Trophy final
- Andrew Pycroft – Previously officiated in the Champions Trophy
- Ranjan Madugalle – Officiated the 2013 final
ICC Confirms Panel’s Expertise
Sean Easey, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees, emphasized the significance of having a top-tier officiating team for such a high-profile tournament.
“We are pleased to announce our panel of match officials for the upcoming Men’s Champions Trophy. This is a credentialled officiating team whose expertise will be valuable in this high-profile tournament.
“We always aim to select the most suitable and deserving officials, and we are confident this group will do a fine job across the matches in Pakistan and the UAE. I wish them all the best for the tournament.”
Complete List of Match Officials
Umpires:
- Kumar Dharmasena
- Chris Gaffaney
- Michael Gough
- Adrian Holdstock
- Richard Illingworth
- Richard Kettleborough
- Ahsan Raza
- Paul Reiffel
- Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid
- Rodney Tucker
- Alex Wharf
- Joel Wilson
Match Referees:
- David Boon
- Ranjan Madugalle
- Andrew Pycroft
Champions Trophy 2025 – A Return to Pakistan
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 marks the tournament’s first edition since 2017, making it a highly anticipated event in the cricketing calendar. The decision to host matches in Pakistan further adds to the excitement, as it will be the first ICC event in the country since 1996.
With the best umpires and referees in charge, the tournament is set to deliver thrilling and fair competition as the world’s top cricketing nations battle for the prestigious title.
Zainab Shafiq