The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is approaching, with only a few days left before the tournament begins. All participating teams are busy with their preparations. Meanwhile, a significant update has emerged regarding the tournament’s officiating crew. Nitin Menon, India’s sole representative among the ICC’s elite panel umpires, has decided not to travel to Pakistan for personal reasons. As a result, he will not be umpiring in the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan this month.
The ICC recently announced the list of 15 match officials, including three match referees and 12 umpires, who will oversee the tournament starting in Karachi on February 19 and concluding on March 9. David Boon of Australia, Ranjan Madugale of Sri Lanka, and Andrew Picroft of Zimbabwe have been appointed as match referees for the eight-team tournament. The matches will be held in three Pakistani cities: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. However, due to security concerns, India’s matches will take place in Dubai, starting with their game against Bangladesh on February 20.
According to a source within the Cricket Board of India (BCCI), the ICC had intended to include Nitin Menon in the Champions Trophy umpiring team. Nevertheless, Menon opted out of traveling to Pakistan for personal reasons. As the ICC follows a policy of appointing neutral umpires, Menon would not have been able to officiate in matches held in Dubai. The ICC did not comment on Menon’s decision in their statement releasing the list of match officials. The selected umpires for the tournament are experienced, with six of them having previously officiated in the 2017 Champions Trophy, including Richard Kettleborough, who umpired in the final.
The ICC has announced a prestigious panel of 12 umpires to officiate in the eight-team tournament. The list of match officials for the Champions Trophy 2025 includes:
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffni, Michael Gow, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Sharafuddaula Ibne Shahid, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, and Joel Wilson.
Match Referees: David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle, and Andrew Pycroft.
