The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires is a panel of cricket umpires appointed by the International Cricket Council to officiate in Test matches and One Day Internationals around the world. The panel was first established in April 2002 when the ICC decided to reform the way that international cricket was umpired. The main change was that both umpires in a Test match and one of the umpires in a One Day International were now independent of the competing nations, whereas before 2002 just one of the umpires in a Test was independent and in ODIs both umpires were from the home nation. The majority of these ICC appointments are fulfilled by the members of the Elite Panel, who are generally thought to be the best umpires in the world. As such the ICC hopes to ensure that umpiring standards are as high as possible. Members of the panel stand in around 10 Tests and 15 ODIs each year.About ICC – Match Officials The list of umpires in the panel is revised every year by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel.

History The panel was formed in 2002 with eight members.ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002 Peter Willey was invited to be on the panel, but declined the opportunity because it would have required him to spend too much time away from his family. The last members of the original panel retired in 2011. The original eight panel members were: Steve Bucknor, Daryl Harper, Ashoka de Silva, Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Rudi Koertzen, Dave Orchard, David Shepherd and Russell Tiffin.

Members of the International Panel of ICC Umpires stand in ODIs in their home countries, and may be appointed by the ICC to Tests and ODIs as an independent officials at busy times in the cricket calendar to supplement the Elite Panel. The best performing umpires may earn promotion to the Elite Panel. Emirates sponsors the panel, and the umpires are required to wear shirts and coats which have 'Fly Emirates' printed on them whenever they are officiating.Emirates Sponsorship

In July 2019, Michael Gough and Joel Wilson were added to the Elite panel following the retirement of Ian Gould and exclusion of Sundaram Ravi after the 2019 Cricket World Cup. On 16 March 2023, Ahsan Raza and Adrian Holdstock joined the panel after Aleem Dar stepped down from the panel.

In March 2024, Sharfuddoula was added to the Elite Panel after South African umpire Marais Erasmus retired from umpiring in international cricket and thus Sharfuddoula became the first umpire from Bangladesh to be included in this panel.

In March 2025, Alex Wharf and Allahudien Paleker were added to the Elite Panel, after Michael Gough and Joel Wilson were dropped from the panel.

, Australia and England have jointly provided the most panel members with seven. South Africa have provided five; India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and West Indies have provided three; Sri Lanka has provided two; Zimbabwe and Bangladesh has provided just one member. No members have featured from Afghanistan and Ireland, among the full members.

Current members

cricket season, the Elite Panel consists of:

+ List of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires Umpire Date of Birth Age as of Year Appointed Tests ODIs T20Is Country 28 August 1964 2010 102 110 66 Australia 24 April 1971 2011 96 144 52 Sri Lanka 15 March 1973 2011 98 114 46 England 23 August 1963 2013 84 108 43 England 19 April 1966 2013 81 98 38 Australia 30 November 1975 2015 69 94 57 New Zealand 2 November 1983 2020 38 64 59 India 29 May 1974 2023 30 66 91 Pakistan 27 April 1970 2023 23 70 60 South Africa Sharfuddoula 16 October 1976 2024 24 72 60 Bangladesh 4 June 1975 2025 16 43 52 England 1 January 1978 2025 12 34 73 South Africa

Former members The first departures from the panel came in 2004 when Srinivas Venkataraghavan (known as Venkat) retired, and Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed. David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire. Darrell Hair, who joined the panel in 2003, was banned from officiating in matches involving full ICC members following the ball tampering controversy in August 2006.Hair banned In March 2008, following a spell officiating associate members, Hair was once again permitted to umpire full members,Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC but in August he handed in his resignation after he was only allowed to officiate in two Tests.Hair quits to focus on coaching

Steve Bucknor retired in 2009, having stood in a then record 128 Tests since March 1989. Rudi Koertzen retired in 2010,Umpire Rudi Koertzen set to retire while Mark Benson, who had joined the panel in 2006, stood down to return to domestic cricket.Umpire Mark Benson retires from ICC elite panel Asoka de Silva, who rejoined the panel in 2008, was stood down again in 2011 along with Daryl Harper,Harper, de Silva removed from Elite Panel Simon Taufel and Billy Doctrove retired in 2012Billy Doctrove retires from international cricket and Steve Davis retired in 2015. Sundaram Ravi was dropped from the panel after 2019 Cricket World Cup. Ian Gould retired from the panel after the 2019 World Cup. Bruce Oxenford retired from the panel in 2021.

Former elite panel members can still umpire in ODIs and international T20s. Statistics correct as of 31 January 2021. Original panel member + List of Former members of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires Umpire Date of Birth Joined Panel Left Panel Tests ODIs T20Is Country 24 June 1948 2002 2004 44 107 – South Africa 4 June 1959 2002 2004 44 126 4 Zimbabwe 21 April 1945 2002 2004 73 52 – India 27 December 1940 2002 2005 92 172 – England 30 September 1952 2003 2008 78 135 6 Australia 31 May 1946 2002 2009 128 182 – West Indies 6 July 1958 2006 2010 27 72 19 England 26 March 1949 2002 2010 108 206 14 South Africa 28 March 1956 2002 2011 49 122 11 Sri Lanka 23 October 1951 2002 2011 94 174 10 Australia 3 July 1955 2006 2012 38 112 17 West Indies 21 January 1971 2003 2012 74 174 34 Australia 12 May 1956 2006 2013 49 98 23 Pakistan 26 June 1951 2009 2014 40 97 17 New Zealand 11 April 1967 2003 2015 84 200 24 New Zealand 9 April 1952 2008 2015 57 137 26 Australia 19 August 1957 2009 2019 74 141 37 England 22 April 1966 2015 2019 33 48 18 India 11 February 1969 2012 2020 62 130 32 England 5 March 1960 2012 2021 62 97 20 Australia 6 June 1968 2004 2023 145 231 72 Pakistan 27 February 1964 2010 2024 82 124 43 South Africa 18 December 1979 2019 2025 42 92 28 England 30 December 1966 2019 2025 47 98 50 West Indies

Records Test matches Most Test matches as an umpire: Umpire Period Matches TV Umpire Total Aleem Dar 2000–2023 145 27 172 Steve Bucknor 1989–2009 128 2 130 Rudi Koertzen 1992–2010 108 20 128 Rod Tucker 2006–present 102 44 146 Richard Kettleborough 2010–present 98 39 137 Last updated: 26 September 2026

ODI matches Most ODI matches as an umpire: Umpire Period Matches TV Umpire Total Aleem Dar 2003–2023 231 68 299 Rudi Koertzen 1992–2010 209 41 250 Billy Bowden 1995–2016 200 59 259 Steve Bucknor 1989–2009 181 26 207 Daryl Harper 1994–2011 174 45 219 Last updated: 6 February 2026

T20I matches Most T20I matches as an umpire: Umpire Period Matches TV Umpire Total Viswanadan Kalidas 2019–present 109 14 123 Langton Rusere 2015–present 93 31 124 Ahsan Raza 2010–present 91 33 124 Buddhi Pradhan 2012–present 78 4 82 Allahudien Paleker 2018–present 73 17 90 Last updated: 26 September 2026

See also Elite Panel of ICC Referees International Panel of ICC Umpires List of Test umpires Development Panel of ICC Umpires

References

External links ICC match officials