Elite Panel of ICC Umpires

The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires is a panel of cricket umpires appointed by the International Cricket Council to officiate in Test matches and One Day Internationals around the world. The panel was first established in April 2002 when the ICC decided to reform the way that international cricket was umpired. The main change was that both umpires in a Test match and one of the umpires in a One Day International were now independent of the competing nations, whereas before 2002 just one of the umpires in a Test was independent and in ODIs both umpires were from the home nation. The majority of these ICC appointments are fulfilled by the members of the Elite Panel, who are generally thought to be the best umpires in the world. As such the ICC hopes to ensure that umpiring standards are as high as possible. Members of the panel stand in around 10 Tests and 15 ODIs each year.[1] The list of umpires in the panel is revised every year by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel.

History

The panel was formed in 2002 with eight members.[2] Peter Willey was invited to be on the panel, but declined the opportunity because it would have required him to spend too much time away from his family.[3] The last members of the original panel retired in 2011. The original eight panel members were: Steve Bucknor, Daryl Harper, Ashoka de Silva, Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Rudi Koertzen, Dave Orchard, David Shepherd and Russell Tiffin.

Members of the International Panel of ICC Umpires stand in ODIs in their home countries, and may be appointed by the ICC to Tests and ODIs as an independent officials at busy times in the cricket calendar to supplement the Elite Panel.[1] The best performing umpires may earn promotion to the Elite Panel. Emirates sponsors the panel, and the umpires are required to wear shirts and coats which have 'Fly Emirates' printed on them whenever they are officiating.[4]

In July 2019, Michael Gough and Joel Wilson were added to the Elite panel following the retirement of Ian Gould and exclusion of Sundaram Ravi after the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[5] On 16 March 2023, Ahsan Raza and Adrian Holdstock joined the panel after Aleem Dar stepped down from the panel.[6]

In March 2024, Sharfuddoula was added to the Elite Panel after South African umpire Marais Erasmus retired from umpiring in international cricket and thus Sharfuddoula became the first umpire from Bangladesh to be included in this panel.[7]

In March 2025, Alex Wharf and Allahudien Paleker were added to the Elite Panel, after Michael Gough and Joel Wilson were dropped from the panel.[8][9]

As of 7 February 2026, Australia and England have jointly provided the most panel members with seven. South Africa have provided five; India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and West Indies have provided three; Sri Lanka has provided two; Zimbabwe and Bangladesh has provided just one member. No members have featured from Afghanistan and Ireland, among the full members.

Current members

As of 25 June 2026 cricket season, the Elite Panel consists of:[10][11][12]

List of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires
Umpire Date of Birth Age as of 29 August 2026 Year Appointed Tests[13] ODIs[14] T20Is[15] Country
Rod Tucker 28 August 196462 years, 1 day201010211066 Australia
Kumar Dharmasena 24 April 197155 years, 127 days20119714452 Sri Lanka
Richard Kettleborough 15 March 197353 years, 167 days20119811446 England
Richard Illingworth 23 August 196362 years, 329 days20138410843 England
Paul Reiffel 19 April 196660 years, 132 days2013799838 Australia
Chris Gaffaney 30 November 197550 years, 303 days2015689457 New Zealand
Nitin Menon 2 November 198342 years, 300 days2020376458 India
Ahsan Raza 29 May 197452 years, 92 days2023296691 Pakistan
Adrian Holdstock 27 April 197056 years, 124 days2023236960 South Africa
Sharfuddoula 16 October 197649 years, 317 days2024227260 Bangladesh
Alex Wharf 4 June 197551 years, 86 days2025164152 England
Allahudien Paleker 1 January 197848 years, 240 days2025103473 South Africa

Former members

The first departures from the panel came in 2004 when Srinivas Venkataraghavan (known as Venkat) retired,[16] and Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed.[17] David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire.[18] Darrell Hair, who joined the panel in 2003, was banned from officiating in matches involving full ICC members following the ball tampering controversy in August 2006.[19] In March 2008, following a spell officiating associate members, Hair was once again permitted to umpire full members,[20] but in August he handed in his resignation after he was only allowed to officiate in two Tests.[21]

Steve Bucknor retired in 2009, having stood in a then record 128 Tests since March 1989.[22] Rudi Koertzen retired in 2010,[23] while Mark Benson, who had joined the panel in 2006, stood down to return to domestic cricket.[24] Asoka de Silva, who rejoined the panel in 2008, was stood down again in 2011 along with Daryl Harper,[25] Simon Taufel and Billy Doctrove retired in 2012[26] and Steve Davis retired in 2015. Sundaram Ravi was dropped from the panel after 2019 Cricket World Cup.[27] Ian Gould retired from the panel after the 2019 World Cup.[28] Bruce Oxenford retired from the panel in 2021.[29]

Former elite panel members can still umpire in ODIs and international T20s. Statistics correct as of 31 January 2021.

  • † Original panel member
List of Former members of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires
Umpire Date of Birth Joined Panel Left Panel Tests ODIs T20Is Country
Dave Orchard † 24 June 19482002200444107– South Africa
Russell Tiffin † 4 June 195920022004441264 Zimbabwe
Srinivas Venkataraghavan † 21 April 1945200220047352– India
David Shepherd † 27 December 19402002200592172– England
Darrell Hair 30 September 195220032008781356 Australia
Steve Bucknor † 31 May 194620022009128182– West Indies
Mark Benson 6 July 195820062010277219 England
Rudi Koertzen † 26 March 19492002201010820614 South Africa
Asoka de Silva[a] † 28 March 1956200220114912211 Sri Lanka
Daryl Harper † 23 October 1951200220119417410 Australia
Billy Doctrove 3 July 1955200620123811217 West Indies
Simon Taufel 21 January 1971200320127417434 Australia
Asad Rauf 12 May 195620062013499823 Pakistan
Tony Hill 26 June 195120092014409717 New Zealand
Billy Bowden 11 April 1967200320158420024 New Zealand
Steve Davis 9 April 1952200820155713726 Australia
Ian Gould 19 August 1957200920197414137 England
Sundaram Ravi 22 April 196620152019334818 India
Nigel Llong 11 February 1969201220206213032 England
Bruce Oxenford 5 March 196020122021629720 Australia
Aleem Dar 6 June 19682004202314523172 Pakistan
Marais Erasmus 27 February 1964201020248212443 South Africa
Michael Gough 18 December 197920192025429228 England
Joel Wilson 30 December 196620192025479850 West Indies
  1. ↑ de Silva was absent from the panel between 2004 and 2008.

Records

Test matches

Most Test matches as an umpire:[30]

UmpirePeriodMatchesTV UmpireTotal
Pakistan Aleem Dar2000–202314527172
Cricket West Indies Steve Bucknor1989–20091282130
South Africa Rudi Koertzen1992–201010820128
Australia Rod Tucker2006–present10042140
Australia Daryl Harper1996–2011959104
Last updated: 6 February 2026

ODI matches

Most ODI matches as an umpire:[31]

UmpirePeriodMatchesTV UmpireTotal
Pakistan Aleem Dar2003–202323168299
South Africa Rudi Koertzen1992–201020941250
New Zealand Billy Bowden1995–201620059259
Cricket West Indies Steve Bucknor1989–200918126207
Australia Daryl Harper1994–201117445219
Last updated: 6 February 2026

T20I matches

Most T20I matches as an umpire:[32]

UmpirePeriodMatchesTV UmpireTotal
Malaysia Viswanadan Kalidas2019–present10012112
Pakistan Ahsan Raza2010–present8729116
Zimbabwe Langton Rusere2015–present8227109
Nepal Buddhi Pradhan2012–present76480
Pakistan Aleem Dar2009–2024721991
Last updated: 6 February 2026

See also

References

  1. 1 2 About ICC – Match Officials Archived 1 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002
  3. ↑ "Shepherd takes lone stand". BBC Sport. 12 March 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  4. ↑ Emirates Sponsorship
  5. ↑ "Michael Gough, Joel Wilson added to ICC Elite umpires panel; S Ravi omitted". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Aleem Dar ends 19-year old career as Elite Panel Umpire". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel". www.icc-cricket.com. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "Two new faces join the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "ICC elite panel of umpires: Gough and Wilson make way for Wharf and Paleker". www.espncrincinfo.com. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Elite Panel of ICC Umpires". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Nitin Menon included in Elite Panel for 2020-21". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza join ICC Elite Panel of Umpires as Aleem Dar steps down". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Test records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "ODI records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "T20I records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Venkat announces retirement date". ESPNcricinfo. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Two new Umpires graduate to Emirates Eilte Panel, three Umpires not offered new contracts". ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Long, Jon (12 May 2005). "David Shepherd to retire from international cricket in Nelson's anniversary year". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  19. ↑ Hair banned
  20. ↑ Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC
  21. ↑ Hair quits to focus on coaching
  22. ↑ Coverdale, Brydon (18 March 2009). "128 and done". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  23. ↑ Umpire Rudi Koertzen set to retire
  24. ↑ Umpire Mark Benson retires from ICC elite panel
  25. ↑ Harper, de Silva removed from Elite Panel
  26. ↑ Billy Doctrove retires from international cricket
  27. ↑ "India's S Ravi set to be axed from ICC Elite Panel of Umpires". Hindustan Times. May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  28. ↑ "Umpire Ian Gould to retire after World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  29. ↑ "Umpire Oxenford to retire from international cricket". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  30. ↑ "Most matches as an umpire: Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  31. ↑ "Most matches as an umpire: ODI". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  32. ↑ "Most matches as an umpire: T20I". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
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