Richard Illingworth to officiate ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final
Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will serve as the on-field umpires for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, scheduled to take place on March 8, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This marks Richard Illingworth’s second consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final, having previously officiated in the 2024 final. His experience extends beyond T20 formats, as he has also officiated in the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Alex Wharf will be officiating his first senior ICC World Cup final. He has previously worked in the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, showcasing his growing presence in high-stakes matches.
The third umpire for the final will be Allahuddien Paleker, while Adrian Holdstock will serve as the fourth umpire. The match referee is Andy Pycroft, who will oversee the conduct of the game.
New Zealand reached the final after a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the semi-final, while India secured their spot with a narrow seven-run win against England. In that semi-final, India scored 253 runs, successfully defending their total against England, who managed 246 runs.
Richard Illingworth has an impressive record of officiating in major ICC events, and his selection for this final further solidifies his reputation in the cricketing community. Observers will be keen to see how his experience influences the match, especially in a high-pressure environment like a World Cup final.
As the date approaches, cricket fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the match unfolds and what impact the officiating team will have on the game. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any additional appointments or changes to the officiating team leading up to the event.
