The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the elite panel of match officials for the highly anticipated semifinals of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, set to electrify fans in Zimbabwe. This announcement comes at a pivotal moment as young talents battle for glory in the knockout stages.
In the first semifinal on February 3 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Australia faces England in a clash of cricketing powerhouses. Leading the on-field umpiring duties will be Zahid Basheer and Virender Sharma, both seasoned officials with prior experience in the tournament. Basheer officiated key England matches against New Zealand, while Sharma was on the field for Australia’s encounters with Japan and Sri Lanka. Lubabalo Gcuma takes the third umpire role, Prageeth Rambukwella as fourth umpire, and Prakash Bhatt serves as match referee.
The second semifinal, scheduled for February 4 at Harare Sports Club, pits India against Afghanistan. On-field umpires Shaun Hague and Russell Warren bring their expertise to this blockbuster. Hague umpired Afghanistan’s group stage triumphs over South Africa and West Indies, and Warren oversaw India’s victories against USA and Bangladesh. Shaun Craig is third umpire, Masudur Mukul fourth, with Graeme Labrooy as match referee.
India’s journey to the semis has been nothing short of dominant. They kicked off with a 6-wicket win over their first opponents via Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS), followed by an 18-run DLS victory against Bangladesh. Against New Zealand, another 7-wicket DLS triumph sealed their momentum. In Super Sixes, India crushed Zimbabwe by 204 runs and Pakistan by 58 runs, showcasing ruthless form.
These appointments ensure top-tier officiating for what promises to be edge-of-the-seat cricket. Fans worldwide are geared up for potential finals-bound showdowns, with every decision under scrutiny in these high-stakes games.