The experienced duo of Richard Kettleborough and Chris Gaffaney will be the on-field umpires for India’s opening Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Friday.
The marquee clash, to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, will see Kettleborough and Gaffaney assisted by TV umpire Alex Wharf and fourth umpire Chris Brown as India begin their Super 8 campaign against the Proteas.
The Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will begin with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in a Group 2 match in Colombo on Saturday. In its official release, the ICC said, “Rodney Tucker and Paul Reiffel will be in the middle for the opening Super Eights match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” adding that Allahudien Paleker will serve as the TV umpire while Sam Nogajski will don the role of the fourth umpire.
“Tucker and Nogajski will be the on-field team on February 2 when Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Kandy, while Nogajski will also oversee England’s match with Pakistan at the same venue on February 24 alongside Nitin Menon,” the statement further read, referring to Nitin Menon.
For England’s clashes with the co-hosts in Kandy on Sunday and against New Zealand on February 27, Adrian Holdstock will be the on-field umpire alongside Ahsan Raza.
“Paleker and Asif Yaqoob will be in the middle for Sri Lanka’s meeting with New Zealand in Colombo on February 25,” the ICC said, referencing Asif Yaqoob as part of the officiating panel for that fixture.
Gaffaney and Wharf will officiate in the final Super 8 match between India and the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1, while Wharf and Kettleborough will be the on-field pair for the co-hosts’ clash with Zimbabwe on February 26.
The match between Zimbabwe and the West Indies on February 23 in Mumbai will be overseen by Richard Illingworth and Jayaraman Madanagopal.
“Shahid Saikat and Kumar Dharmasena are the on-field team for the West Indies’ match against South Africa on February 26, with Dharmasena back in place alongside Illingworth when the Proteas face Zimbabwe on March 1,” the statement added, confirming further appointments across venues.
The ICC also confirmed that Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Javagal Srinath will continue to serve as match referees during the Super 8 stage, ensuring experienced oversight as the tournament enters a crucial phase.
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