The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the list of match officials for the group stages of the 2025 Champions Trophy on Monday, with seasoned umpires Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth appointed to officiate the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash in Dubai on February 23.
The marquee match, set to take place at Dubai International Stadium, will see Michael Gough as the TV umpire, Adrian Holdstock as the fourth umpire, and David Boon as the match referee. The announcement comes as the tournament prepares to return for the first time since 2017, with Pakistan defending their title won in England eight years prior.
Key Appointments for Opening Matches
The tournament opener on February 19 in Karachi will feature Pakistan vs. New Zealand, with Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid as on-field umpires. Joel Wilson will serve as TV umpire, Alex Wharf as fourth umpire, and Andrew Pycroft as match referee.
India’s group-stage fixtures will see a rotation of officials:
- vs. Bangladesh (Feb. 20, Dubai): Adrian Holdstock and Paul Reiffel on-field, Richard Illingworth (TV umpire), Michael Gough (fourth umpire), and David Boon (referee).
- vs. New Zealand (March 2, Dubai): Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth on-field, with Adrian Holdstock (TV umpire), Paul Reiffel (fourth umpire), and Boon as referee.
Tournament Structure and Hosting Milestone
The 15-match event, spanning 19 days, will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. Group A comprises Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa. The tournament marks Pakistan’s first time hosting a global cricket event since the 1996 ODI World Cup.
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Full List of Group-Stage Officials
- Pakistan vs. New Zealand (Feb. 19, Karachi): Kettleborough, Sharfuddoula (on-field); Wilson (TV), Wharf (fourth); Pycroft (referee).
- Afghanistan vs. South Africa (Feb. 21, Karachi): Alex Wharf, Rodney Tucker (on-field); Kettleborough (TV), Sharfuddoula (fourth); Ranjan Madugalle (referee).
- Australia vs. England (Feb. 22, Lahore): Joel Wilson, Chris Gaffaney (on-field); Kumar Dharmasena (TV), Ahsan Raza (fourth); Pycroft (referee).
- Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (Feb. 27, Rawalpindi): Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock (on-field); Reiffel (TV), Illingworth (fourth); Boon (referee).
India and Australia, the most successful teams in Champions Trophy history with two titles each, will aim to add to their legacies in the eight-team competition. The knockout stage schedule and officials will be announced later.
The tournament begins February 19, with the final slated for March 9.
