The stage is set for cricket’s biggest continental showdown as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the match officials for Asia Cup 2025. In a surprising turn of events, only two Indians – Rohan Pandit and Virender Sharma – have been selected as umpires for the prestigious tournament that kicks off on September 9, 2025.
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The Big Picture: Limited Indian Representation
Despite India being the most successful team in Asia Cup history with eight titles, the umpiring panel reflects a truly international composition. Seasoned match referees Richie Richardson and Andy Pycroft will lead the match officials’ team, bringing decades of experience to cricket’s continental championship.
The tournament, originally scheduled to be hosted by India, has been moved to the UAE due to ongoing tensions with Pakistan – a decision that has now extended to the officiating appointments as well.
Asia Cup 2025 Match Officials
Umpires Panel
| India | Rohan Pandit, Virender Sharma |
| Pakistan | Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi |
| Sri Lanka | Raveendra Wimalasiri, Ruchira Palliyaguruge |
| Bangladesh | Gazi Sohel, Masudur Rahman |
| Afghanistan | Ahmad Pakteen, Izatullah Safi |
Match Referees
- Richie Richardson (West Indies)
- Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
Key Matches and Officials
The marquee India vs Pakistan clash on September 14 in Dubai will see Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Masudur Rahman as on-field umpires, with Ahmad Pakteen as TV umpire and Andy Pycroft as match referee. Notably, no Indian officials will be directly involved in this high-stakes encounter.
India’s opening match against UAE on September 10 will feature Gazi Sohel and Izatullah Safi as on-field umpires, with Ruchira Palliyaguruge as TV umpire.
What This Means for Indian Cricket
The limited Indian representation in the officiating panel reflects the ACC’s commitment to maintaining neutrality in a tournament where India enters as defending champions. With India’s T20I squad led by Suryakumar Yadav, the team will need to adapt to predominantly foreign officiating throughout their campaign.
This development comes at a time when India has only one representative, Nitin Menon, on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, highlighting the need for more Indian officials to reach international standards.
Looking Ahead
The ACC has confirmed that match officials for the Super Four stage and final will be announced later in the tournament, leaving room for potential changes as the competition progresses.
As the tournament unfolds across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, cricket fans can expect world-class officiating that maintains the integrity of what promises to be one of the most competitive Asia Cups in recent memory.
For more updates on Asia Cup 2025 and Indian cricket news, stay tuned to Technosports. Follow our comprehensive coverage of India’s campaign and tournament analysis.
