Cricket
Match Officials
Elite Panel of ICC Umpires
Adrian Holdstock
DOB: Apr 27, 1970 Born: Cape Town, South Africa
A first-class player who figured in 16 first-class and seven List A matches for Western Province and Boland as a fast-bowling all-rounder before deciding to use his experience in umpiring, Adrian Holdstock has been on the international circuit since 2011.
Inducted into the ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2011, Holdstock’s first international match was a T20I between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town the same year.
Holdstock had officiated in all three formats in international cricket when he was inducted into the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2023, 16 years after he first stood in a first-class match back home in South Africa.
Holdstock was part of the teams that officiated in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022.
Ahsan Raza
DOB: May 29, 1972 Born: Lahore, Pakistan
Ahsan Raza was a wicketkeeper who played 21 First Class and four List A matches for different teams in Pakistan before taking up umpiring as a profession.
He was inducted into the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2010, making his international debut in an ODI between Afghanistan and Canada in Sharjah the same year. He started officiating in T20Is in 2010 but had to wait till 2021 to get his first Test.
A familiar face on the international circuit and having stood in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, he was inducted into the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2023 with a record 71 Men’s T20I matches already under his belt.
Ahsan was the third umpire from Pakistan to be inducted into the Elite panel even as compatriot Aleem Dar opted out after almost two decades.
Joel Wilson
DOB: Dec 30, 1966 Born: Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
Joel Wilson has been on the international circuit since 2011, first standing in an ODI between the West Indies and India in June that year.
By 2015, he was officiating in Tests and his high-profile appointments include the Ashes series of 2019 and England’s tour of South Africa in early 2000.
Wilson was inducted into the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2011-12 and into the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2019-20.
He has officiated in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups of 2015 (Australia/New Zealand) and 2019 (United Kingdom) as well as the Men’s T20 World Cup 2016 in India.
Michael Gough
DOB: Dec 18, 1979 Born: Durham, United Kingdom
A promising opening batsman who once led the England Under-19 side, Michael Gough was a consistent performer for Durham and played for England ‘A’, turning out in 67 first-class and 49 List A matches.
However, he decided not to pursue a career as a player, opting for umpiring early in life. At 27, he was in the ECB’s reserve list and by 30 in the full list of first-class umpires.
His international career started in 2013 when he officiated in a T20I between England and Australia at Chester-le-Street and had stood in a Test by 2016.
Gough was inducted into the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2013-14 and into the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2019-20.
He has officiated in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups of 2015 (Australia/New Zealand) and 2019 (United Kingdom) as well as the Men’s T20 World Cup 2016 in India.
Nitin Menon
DOB: Nov 2, 1983 Born: Indore, India
Nitin Menon played a couple of List A matches on the Indian domestic circuit but realised early on that umpiring was his true calling and decided to make it his profession by the age of 23, in 2007.
He made his international debut in a T20I match between India and England in Kanpur in January 2017 and had stood in a Test by December 2019.
He was inducted into the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2016-17 and became only the third from his country in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2019-20.
His assignments include the Women’s T20 World Cups of 2018 (West Indies) and 2020 (Australia).
Chris Gaffaney
DOB: Nov 30, 1975 Born: Dunedin, Otago
Played 83 first-class matches, 113 List A, and eight Twenty20 games for Otago.
Began his international umpiring career in 2010, and has officiated in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Promoted to the International Cricket Council's Elite Panel of Umpires in June 2015.
Worked with the New Zealand police for close to 10 years before taking over as a full-time umpire.
Kumar Dharmasena
DOB: Apr 24, 1971 Born: Colombo, Sri Lanka
He was part of Sri Lanka's national team for over a decade.
He was a member of Sri Lanka's ICC CWC 1996 winning team.
He retired from competitive cricket in 2006 to pursue a career in umpiring.
He was Sri Lanka's youngest-ever international umpire on his debut in an ODI in 2009.
He also officiated in the ICC CWC 2011.
The all-rounder is also qualified to be a coach.
In May 2011 he was selected for the Elite Umpires' Panel
Paul Reiffel
DOB: Apr 19, 1966 Born: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
He was part of Australia's victorious 1999 World Cup team.
He made his first class umpiring debut in the 2004/2005 season after first umpiring in Melbourne grade cricket in 2002.
He joined the Cricket Australia National Umpire's Panel in the 2005/2006 season.
He made his international umpiring debut in a ODI in February 2009.
Richard Illingworth
DOB: Aug 23, 1963 Born: Bradford, Yorkshire
He has played domestic cricket for Worcestershire, Derbyshire and Natal.
He was appointed to the ECB full list of first-class umpires for the 2006 English cricket season.
He was promoted to the ICC International list on November 2009.
Appointed to the ICC Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in 2013.
Richard Kettleborough
DOB: Mar 15, 1973 Born: Sheffield, Yorkshire
He is a former first-class cricketer who played 33 matches for Yorkshire and Middlesex.
He was a left-handed opener making seven half-centuries and one century.
The ECB added him to their list of umpires in 2006.
He was one of the umpires at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
In May 2011 he was selected for the Elite Umpires' Panel.
Rod Tucker
DOB: Aug 28, 1964 Born: Auburn Sydney, New South Wales
He has played domestic cricket for New South Wales and Tasmania.
After his playing career ended, he turned to umpiring and was promoted to the ICC's Emirates International Panel of Umpires in 2010.
He made his ODI and T20I debut in 2009 in the series between Australia and South Africa played in Australia.
Umpired at the ICC WT20 2009 and 2010, as well as ICC CWC 2011.