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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday confirmed the panel of match officials for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final.
The much-anticipated Test is set to be played between South Africa and Australia at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15.
New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney and England’s Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires for the high-stakes encounter.
Illingworth continues to cement his reputation as a go-to figure for marquee Test matches.
This will be his third consecutive WTC final, making him the only umpire to officiate on-field in all three deciders since the tournament’s inception.
The veteran Englishman is also the reigning ICC Umpire of the Year, having clinched the David Shepherd Trophy for a record fourth time in 2024.
Gaffaney, a familiar face in ICC knockouts, had previously partnered with Illingworth in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final and was also part of the umpiring team for the WTC 2023 final between India and Australia.
England’s Richard Kettleborough, another experienced campaigner with multiple ICC finals under his belt, has been appointed as the TV umpire for this year’s final.
He was in the same role during the 2021 WTC final between India and New Zealand.
India’s Nitin Menon will be the fourth umpire, marking his WTC final debut in this capacity. Menon had earlier served as the TV umpire in the 2021 T20 World Cup final.
Former Indian fast bowler and seasoned match official Javagal Srinath has been named the match referee.
ICC Chair Jay Shah praised the experience and consistency of the appointed officials and expressed full confidence in their ability to deliver at the sport’s highest level.
“We are pleased to announce an experienced team of match officials for the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, marking the culmination of a highly competitive two-year cycle of Test matches played around the world,” Shah said.
“We strive to select the most qualified and deserving officials for all matches, and we are confident they will perform admirably. On behalf of the ICC, I wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this assignment,” he added.
