India’s Virender Sharma and Prakash Bhatt are part of the 21 match officials selected for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia starting on January 15. The officials, representing 13 nationalities, include 17 umpires and four match referees from the ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees.
The umpiring team comprises officials from various countries, with former Zimbabwean cricketer Forster Mutizwa and Iknow Chabi from Zimbabwe set to officiate. Notable figures like Deighton Butler from West Indies and England’s Graham Lloyd, son of former umpire David Lloyd, are also part of the officiating group.
The four match referees appointed for the tournament are Dean Cosker (England), Prakash Bhatt (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), and Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), all bringing extensive international experience to the event. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta praised the World Cup as a platform for umpires to demonstrate their skills and gain valuable experience.
The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will run from January 15 to February 6, 2026, featuring 16 teams in 41 matches, with the final scheduled at the Harare Sports Club. The tournament will kick off with India facing the United States, Zimbabwe playing Scotland, and Tanzania making their debut against the West Indies.
Matches will be held across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with a format consisting of four groups, followed by the Super Six stage, semi-finals, and the final in Harare.
