Momentum Builds as ICC Confirms Officials for Champions Trophy 2025 Semi-Finals
There’s always buzz around the Champions Trophy 2025, but this week, the excitement isn’t just about the teams on the field. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially revealed the names of umpires and referees for the much-awaited semi-final clashes. The first game sees two powerhouses—India and Australia—go head-to-head in Dubai on March 4, followed by South Africa and New Zealand facing off in Lahore on March 5. With these appointments, the groundwork is set for cricket fans to witness not just skillful play, but also top-tier officiating in some season-defining contests.
Let’s break down who’ll be making the on-field calls. For the India vs Australia semi-final in Dubai, New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney and England’s Richard Illingworth will take up the on-field umpire roles. They’ve been in high-pressure matches before and aren’t strangers to the world stage. In the third umpire box sits Michael Gough from England, ready to step in with television technology for any tight calls. The fourth umpire, helping out with logistics on matchday, is Adrian Holdstock from South Africa. Overseeing the match is Zimbabwe’s veteran referee Andy Pycroft. Stuart Cummings has the unique task of working as the umpire coach for this match—a role that’s still relatively new for many fans, but crucial for ensuring match officials perform at their best under pressure.
Switch venues to Lahore for the next semi-final—South Africa versus New Zealand. Here, Sri Lankan officiating legend Kumar Dharmasena teams up with Australia’s Paul Reiffel as the on-field umpires. Dharmasena’s experience in crunch situations is widely respected, and Reiffel has umpired in matches featuring these very sides this tournament. For third umpire duties, Joel Wilson from the West Indies watches every angle for TV referrals. Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza, who knows the Lahore pitch well, takes up fourth umpire responsibilities. The match referee’s chair will be filled by Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle, another name well-known in international cricket. Karl Hurter hailing from South Africa will be handling the umpire coaching, continuing this ICC emphasis on strengthening umpire performance on the global stage.
Experience and Familiar Faces in High-Stakes Encounters
This isn’t just an exercise in paperwork—umpire assignments can influence how a game flows. For instance, Chris Gaffaney was scheduled to umpire the rain-affected Group B clash between Australia and South Africa, which had no result, so he’s eager for involvement in a knockout match. Richard Illingworth already handled India’s nail-biting group game against New Zealand. On the other side, Kumar Dharmasena saw New Zealand’s tidy win over Bangladesh in Group A, and Paul Reiffel supervised India’s passionate win over Pakistan—a game still fresh in fans’ memory.
That sort of familiarity matters. Players have their hands full focusing on strategy and nerves, and having officials who understand the rhythms and personalities of recent contests does a lot to keep matches running smoothly. And for the umpire coaches—Stuart Cummings and Karl Hurter—the semi-finals are a testing ground too, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained just when it matters most.
With the admin sorted and the best in the business assigned to these matches, it’s all eyes on Dubai and Lahore. Both matchups are loaded with tension, as these four cricket giants chase a place in the final—and the world watches, waiting to see who will rise to the occasion, both with bat and ball, and whistle and flag.