Match Officials for Champions Trophy 2025 Announced, No Indian Included
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the list of match officials for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, and surprisingly, no Indian official has been included in the list. The ICC has picked a total of 12 umpires and three match referees for the tournament, which is set to take place later this year.
The three match referees announced are David Boon, Ranjan Madugalle, and Andrew Pycroft, all of whom have extensive experience in international cricket. Boon, a former Australian cricketer, has been involved with the ICC as a match referee since 2004, while Madugalle, a Sri Lankan cricketer, has been a match referee since 2007. Pycroft, a former Zimbabwean cricketer, has been a match referee since 2010.
The 12 umpires selected for the tournament include some of the most experienced and respected officials in the game. Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Illingworth, and Richard Kettleborough are among the notable names on the list. Dharmasena, a former Sri Lankan cricketer, has been an international umpire since 2003, while Illingworth and Kettleborough have been umpiring at the highest level since 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Other notable umpires on the list include Rodney Tucker, Ian Gould, Aleem Dar, Michael Gough, and Simon Fry. Tucker, a former Australian cricketer, has been an international umpire since 2006, while Gould, a former English cricketer, has been umpiring at the highest level since 2006. Dar, a former Pakistani cricketer, has been an international umpire since 2003, while Gough and Fry have been umpiring at the highest level since 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The absence of Indian officials from the list may come as a surprise to many, given the country’s rich cricketing tradition and the fact that India has produced some of the best umpires in the world. However, the ICC has been working towards increasing diversity and representation among its match officials, and this list is a reflection of that effort.
In recent years, the ICC has taken steps to increase the representation of officials from smaller cricketing nations. In 2020, the ICC introduced a new system of umpire selection, which aimed to promote greater diversity and representation among its officials. The new system gave more weight to the performances of umpires in the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate members, which has led to a greater representation of officials from smaller cricketing nations.
The ICC has also been working to improve the training and development of its match officials, which has led to an increase in the number of officials from smaller cricketing nations breaking into the international scene. In 2020, the ICC launched a new umpire development program, which aimed to provide training and support to officials from smaller cricketing nations.
While the absence of Indian officials from the list may come as a surprise to many, the ICC’s efforts to increase diversity and representation among its match officials are a welcome step forward. The inclusion of officials from smaller cricketing nations will not only bring new perspectives and ideas to the game but also help to promote greater diversity and representation in the sport.
In conclusion, the announcement of the match officials for the Champions Trophy 2025 is a significant step forward for the ICC. The selection of 12 experienced umpires and three match referees is a testament to the ICC’s commitment to promoting the best interests of the game. While the absence of Indian officials from the list may be a surprise, the ICC’s efforts to increase diversity and representation among its match officials are a welcome step forward.
