PCB announces match officials for Pakistan, New Zealand T20I series

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

The Pakistan Cricket Board has revealed the match officials for the upcoming Pakistan versus New Zealand five-match T20I series, slated to take place between April 18th and April 27th in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Andy Pycroft, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will head the playing control team. Joining him are five umpires: Ahsan Raza, Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, and Rashid Riaz, all from the ICC’s international panel, who will share the umpiring duties.

Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe Test batter, brings extensive experience to the role, having officiated in 144 T20Is thus far. His assignment in the second T20I on April 20th will mark a milestone as he surpasses Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle to claim the second spot for match referees officiating in the most T20Is. The record for this position is held by New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe with 175 matches.

The series will kick off at Pindi Stadium, hosting the first three T20Is on April 18th, 20th, and 21st, before the action shifts to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the final two matches on April 25th and 27th.

Match officials:

18 April – First T20I. Ahsan Raza and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Faisal Afridi (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

20 April – Second T20I. Asif Yaqoob and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

21 April – Third T20I. Ahzan Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Aleem Dar (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

25 April – Fourth T20I. Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)

27 April – Rashid Riaz and Faisal Afridi (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Andy Pycroft (match referee)