By Tim Douglas 
The highly anticipated SA20 Season 3 is set to kick off in Gqeberha, bringing together a distinguished panel of 21 match officials to oversee the group phase of the tournament. This impressive lineup includes 16 umpires and five match referees, headlined by the internationally acclaimed Marais Erasmus.
Marais Erasmus Leads the Panel
Marais Erasmus, a veteran with nearly 400 international matches under his belt, will lead the panel. His extensive experience in Tests, ODIs, and T20 Internationals for both men’s and women’s cricket makes him a cornerstone of this season’s officiating team.
Breaking Barriers: Female Match Officials Shine
Lauren Agenbag and Shandre Fritz, South Africa’s trailblazing female match officials, continue to break new ground. Agenbag, one of the most seasoned umpires in Women’s T20 International cricket, recently officiated in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final 2024.
Shandre Fritz, a former Proteas Women captain, brings her vast experience as a match referee, having officiated in 148 international matches. She will be joined by Barry Lambson, Laurence Matroos, Zed Ndamane, and Gerrie Pienaar in the match referees list.
Umpire Exchange Programme
As part of the ongoing Umpire Exchange Programme with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), James Middlebrook will participate, officiating in four matches this season. He joins a distinguished panel that includes members of Cricket South Africa’s Elite Umpires Panel, such as Lubabalo Gcuma, Stephen Harris, Bongani Jele, and Allahudien Paleker, the latter being awarded CSA’s Umpire of the Year for the 2023/24 season.
Opening Match Details
The season opener is set to thrill fans as the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the two-time defending champions, face off against MI Cape Town at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. The match will start at 17:30 SAST.
Complete Umpires Panel
- Lauren Agenbag
- Marais Erasmus
- Mazizi Gampu
- Siphelele Gasa
- Babalo Gcuma
- Stephen Harris
- Arno Jacobs
- Bongani Jele
- Thomas Mokorosi
- Allahudien Paleker
- Dennis Smith
- Abongile Sodumo
- Abdoellaah Steenkamp
- Philip Vosloo
- James Middlebrook (English)
- Brad White
Match Referees List
- Shandre Fritz
- Barry Lambson
- Laurence Matroos
- Zed Ndamane
- Gerrie Pienaar
Stay tuned as SA20 Season 3 promises exciting cricket action, guided by a world-class officiating panel.
Zainab Shafiq