ICC Announces 12 Elite Panel Umpires for 2025-26 Season, Star Umpires dropped

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced its 12-member elite panel of umpires for the 2025-26 season, making significant changes to the lineup. The ICC removed England’s Michael Gough and West Indies’ Joel Wilson after assessing their performance. South Africa’s Allahuddien Palekar and England’s Alex Wharf have taken their places in the prestigious elite panel.

Alex Wharf and Allahuddien Palekar Join ICC Elite Panel

Wharf, a former England cricketer, has transitioned successfully into umpiring over the years. Having played 13 ODIs for England between 2004 and 2005, he later took up officiating and has since stood in seven Test matches, 33 ODIs, and 45 T20Is in men’s international cricket. His experience includes officiating in the 2024 ICC Champions Trophy, held in Pakistan and the UAE. Delighted with his inclusion in the elite panel, Wharf expressed gratitude towards his colleagues and supporters.

“This milestone would not have been possible without the amazing colleagues who have shared their expertise with me and those who have supported me both on and off the field. I look forward to continuing to learn from and work alongside them as I embark on this exciting new chapter in my career,” Wharf said in a statement issued by the ICC.

Palekar, a former South African first-class cricketer, has also established himself as a reliable umpire in international cricket. He has officiated in four Test matches, 23 ODIs, and 67 T20Is, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year and the Under-19 Men’s World Cup in 2024. Upon receiving the honor, Palekar acknowledged the responsibility that comes with being on the elite panel.

“This is a significant moment in my umpiring career. It’s an honor to be named in the elite panel, and I look forward to reposing the faith shown in me. Being on this panel brings both pride and responsibility, but I am confident that my experience officiating across formats will stand me in good stead,” Palekar said.

ICC Chairman Welcomes New Umpires, Thanks Departing Officials

The ICC’s decision to revamp the panel was made after a thorough evaluation of umpires’ performances over the past year. While Gough and Wilson had been part of the elite panel in previous seasons, their omission indicates the ICC’s emphasis on maintaining high standards in officiating.

Meanwhile, ICC Chairman Jay Shah extended his appreciation to the outgoing umpires for their contributions and welcomed the new entrants.

“Being an elite official brings with it scrutiny and pressure, but we are confident that both Allahuddien and Alex possess the temperament, experience, and skill to deliver consistently at this very top level,” Shah said.

The updated list of ICC Elite Panel Umpires for the 2025-26 season includes Kumara Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Allahuddien Palekar (South Africa), Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh), Rod Tucker (Australia), and Alex Wharf (England).

With these changes, the ICC aims to ensure the highest level of officiating in international cricket, maintaining the integrity and fairness of the game.

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