Elite Panel of ICC Umpires

History

The panel was formed in 2002 with eight members. 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.

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 with four, 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:

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. In March 2008, following a spell officiating associate members, Hair was once again permitted to umpire full members, but in August he handed in his resignation after he was only allowed to officiate in two Tests.

Steve Bucknor retired in 2009, having stood in a then record 128 Tests since March 1989. Rudi Koertzen retired in 2010, while Mark Benson, who had joined the panel in 2006, stood down to return to domestic cricket. Asoka de Silva, who rejoined the panel in 2008, was stood down again in 2011 along with Daryl Harper, Simon Taufel and Billy Doctrove retired in 2012 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

^de Silva was absent from the panel between 2004 and 2008.

Records

Test matches

Most Test matches as an umpire:

ODI matches

Most ODI matches as an umpire:

T20I matches

Most T20I matches as an umpire:

References

References

1. [http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/about-icc/match-officials.html About ICC – Match Officials] {{webarchive. link. (1 February 2009)
2. [https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/MAY/002885_ICC_16MAY2002.html ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002]
3. (12 March 2002). "Shepherd takes lone stand".
4. [https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/partners/sponsors/emirates Emirates Sponsorship]
5. "Michael Gough, Joel Wilson added to ICC Elite umpires panel; S Ravi omitted". ESPNcricinfo.
6. "Aleem Dar ends 19-year old career as Elite Panel Umpire". Cricbuzz.
7. (28 March 2024). "Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel". www.icc-cricket.com.
8. "Two new faces join the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires". www.icc-cricket.com.
9. "ICC elite panel of umpires: Gough and Wilson make way for Wharf and Paleker". www.espncrincinfo.com.
10. (28 March 2024). "Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel". [[International Cricket Council.
11. "Elite Panel of ICC Umpires". International Cricket Council.
12. "Nitin Menon included in Elite Panel for 2020-21". International Cricket Council.
13. "Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza join ICC Elite Panel of Umpires as Aleem Dar steps down". www.icc-cricket.com.
14. (25 March 2025). "Two new faces join the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires". International Cricket Council.
15. "Test records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo.
16. "ODI records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo.
17. "T20I records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo.
18. (5 February 2004). "Venkat announces retirement date".
19. (6 February 2004). "Two new Umpires graduate to Emirates Eilte Panel, three Umpires not offered new contracts".
20. (12 May 2005). "David Shepherd to retire from international cricket in Nelson's anniversary year".
21. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/266878.html Hair banned]
22. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/343055.html Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC]
23. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/365890.html Hair quits to focus on coaching]
24. (18 March 2009). "128 and done".
25. [http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/461939.html Umpire Rudi Koertzen set to retire]
26. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8499944.stm Umpire Mark Benson retires from ICC elite panel]
27. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/516640.html Harper, de Silva removed from Elite Panel]
28. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/567610.html Billy Doctrove retires from international cricket]
29. (May 2019). "India's S Ravi set to be axed from ICC Elite Panel of Umpires". Hindustan Times.
30. "Umpire Ian Gould to retire after World Cup". ESPNcricinfo.
31. "Umpire Oxenford to retire from international cricket". International Cricket Council.
32. "Most matches as an umpire: Test". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
33. "Most matches as an umpire: ODI". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
34. "Most matches as an umpire: T20I". [[ESPNcricinfo]].