The International Cricket Council has confirmed the match officials for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals, appointing Javagal Srinath and Andy Pycroft as referees for the knockout clashes in Kolkata and Mumbai on March 4 and 5, respectively.
The appointments set the stage for two high-stakes encounters — South Africa vs New Zealand at Eden Gardens and India vs England in Mumbai — with the ICC turning to members of its Emirates Elite Panel to oversee proceedings at a decisive stage of the tournament.
In the first semifinal at the Eden Gardens, Srinath will serve as the match referee when South Africa faces New Zealand on Wednesday. On-field umpiring duties will be handled by Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf.
Illingworth previously stood in South Africa’s semifinal against Afghanistan two years ago, while Wharf officiated New Zealand’s group-stage victory over the same opposition earlier in this edition.
Nitin Menon has been named the third umpire for the Kolkata fixture, with Rod Tucker appointed fourth umpire.
The second semifinal, scheduled for Thursday in Mumbai, will see Pycroft take charge as match referee for the contest between India and England. Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker will be the on-field umpires for the clash.
Gaffaney also officiated when the two sides met at the same stage in the 2024 edition of the tournament. Paleker has overseen two of England’s matches in the ongoing competition, along with India’s win over the Netherlands in the group phase.
Adrian Holdstock will serve as the third umpire in Mumbai, while Paul Reiffel has been named the fourth umpire.
The ICC’s selections underline its reliance on experienced officials as the tournament enters its final phase. With four teams vying for a place in the March 8 final, the focus will extend beyond the players to the officials entrusted with ensuring the semifinals are conducted under the highest standards of fairness and consistency.
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Semi-Final 1: Kolkata, Wednesday 4 March 2026
- South Africa v New Zealand
- On-field Umpire: Richard Illingworth & Alex Wharf
- Third Umpire: Nitin Menon
- Fourth Umpire: Rod Tucker
- Referee: Javagal Srinath
Semi-Final 2: Mumbai, Thursday 5 March 2026
- India v England
- On-field Umpire: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien Paleker
- Third Umpire: Adrian Holdstock
- Fourth Umpire: Paul Reiffel
- Referee: Andy Pycroft
