Indian Umpires Opted Out Of Champions Trophy 2025
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the list of match officials for the upcoming Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with no Indian officials included in the lineup.
According to Indian media reports, match referee Javagal Srinath and umpire Nitin Menon have mutually decided, in agreement with the ICC, not to participate in the tournament, which will be hosted in Pakistan.
While Srinath applied for leave and Menon cited personal reasons, it is widely believed that their decision stems from a reluctance to travel to Pakistan. Since the duo was ineligible to officiate any of the Dubai-based matches—all of which involve India—they will not be part of the tournament.
The ICC follows a policy of appointing neutral umpires for all matches in its official tournaments to ensure fairness and transparency.
Match Officials for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025
Umpires:
- Kumar Dharmasena
- Chris Gaffaney
- Michael Gough
- Adrian Holdstock
- Richard Illingworth
- Richard Kettleborough
- Ahsan Raza
- Paul Reiffel
- Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid
- Rodney Tucker
- Alex Wharf
- Joel Wilson
Match Referees:
- David Boon
- Ranjan Madugalle
- Andrew Pycroft
Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule & Format
The eight-team tournament, featuring 15 matches, will take place from February 19 to March 9, across three venues in Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi) and Dubai.
The teams are divided into two groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
- Group B: Afghanistan, South Africa, England, Australia
Key Matches & Venue Allocations
- Pakistan vs New Zealand (Opening Match): February 19 in Karachi
- Pakistan vs India (Blockbuster Clash): February 23 in Dubai
- Total Matches in Pakistan: 10
- Total Matches in Dubai: 4 (including all India group-stage matches and the first semi-final)
- Final Match Venue: Lahore (If India qualifies, the final will be moved to Dubai)
Additionally, a reserve day has been designated for the final to account for any potential weather disruptions.
