India’s Virender Sharma and Prakash Bhatt have been selected among the 21 match officials for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place across Zimbabwe and Namibia starting from January 15.
A total of 17 umpires and four match referees from the ICC International Panels will officiate the tournament, with officials representing 13 different nationalities. This was confirmed in an official statement from the ICC.
Umpiring Panel Highlights
The umpiring panel includes two officials from host nation Zimbabwe. Former international cricketer Forster Mutizwa, who has played 21 matches across formats for Zimbabwe, will officiate alongside fellow countryman Iknow Chabi.
Additionally, the officiating group features seasoned professionals such as former West Indies international Deighton Butler and England’s Graham Lloyd. Lloyd continues a family legacy, following in the footsteps of his father David Lloyd, a respected former umpire and renowned broadcaster.
Match Referee Lineup
The tournament will also see four match referees appointed, which includes Dean Cosker (England), Prakash Bhatt (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), and Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh). Each of these referees brings significant international experience to the event.
Official Statements
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta emphasized that the World Cup offers an excellent chance for umpires to display their decision-making skills and gear up for the pinnacle of cricket competitions. He stated:
“This ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine, but it is also an invaluable reward system for up-and-coming match officials. We hope that this will be the perfect springboard for their careers as we see them progress in their officiating journeys.”
Tournament Details
The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will be held from January 15 to February 6, 2026. Sixteen teams will compete in 41 matches, with the final scheduled for February 6 at the Harare Sports Club.
On the opening day, India will face the United States, while Zimbabwe will take on Scotland, and Tanzania will make their historic tournament debut against the West Indies.
The matches will be played across five venues: Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club, and Queens Sports Club in Zimbabwe, as well as the Namibia Cricket Ground and HP Oval in Namibia.
The tournament format is structured into four groups of four teams each, leading into the Super Six stage, followed by the semi-finals and concluding with the final in Harare.
Match Officials for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026
Umpires: Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghanistan), Aidan Seaver (Ireland), Cory Black (New Zealand), Deighton Butler (West Indies), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Forster Mutizwa (Zimbabwe), Graham Lloyd (England), Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa), Masudur Mukul (Bangladesh), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Prageeth Rambukwella (Sri Lanka), Russell Warren (England), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Shawn Craig (Australia), Virender Sharma (India), Zahid Bassarath (West Indies)
Referees: Dean Cosker (England), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), Prakash Bhatt (India)