The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced its comprehensive panels of umpires and match referees for the 2025–26 domestic and international cricket season. The announcement reflects the PCB’s continuing effort to modernize officiating standards, nurture emerging talent, and ensure that both men’s and women’s cricket in Pakistan benefit from the highest levels of professionalism and consistency.
Leading the lineup is Ali Naqvi, who has been placed on the prestigious ICC International Panel of Match Officials, signaling Pakistan’s ongoing contribution to the global cricketing community. The announcement is being viewed as a testament to the country’s growing emphasis on training, development, and integrity within its officiating structure.
According to the PCB, the panels were finalized following a detailed performance review conducted by the National Match Officials Committee, which evaluated experience, on-field performance, decision accuracy, and disciplinary records from the previous season. The 2025–26 panel includes both seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, ensuring a balanced representation that supports the board’s long-term strategic vision for cricket governance.
The new appointments come at a time when Pakistan’s domestic cricket circuit continues to expand, with additional tournaments scheduled under the PCB’s domestic calendar. These include the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan Cup, National T20, and Women’s Domestic Championship, all of which require a deep pool of qualified umpires and referees to manage fixtures efficiently and fairly.
The updated structure aligns with the PCB’s objectives under its Strategic Plan 2025, which prioritizes improving match integrity, promoting gender inclusivity, and providing consistent officiating across all levels of competition.
ICC International Panel of Match Officials
At the international level, five distinguished officials from Pakistan have been recognized for their contributions and are now eligible to officiate in ICC-sanctioned matches. The panel includes:
- Ali Naqvi (Match Referee)
- Asif Yaqoob (Islamabad)
- Faisal Khan Afridi (Sargodha)
- Rashid Riaz Waqar (Lahore)
- Saleema Imtiaz (Karachi)
Ali Naqvi’s inclusion as match referee continues his rise as one of Pakistan’s most respected cricketing administrators. Known for his composed approach and extensive experience both on and off the field, Naqvi’s appointment highlights the PCB’s growing presence in the international umpiring and refereeing landscape.
Saleema Imtiaz, meanwhile, continues to make history as one of the few female officials to be listed in the ICC International Panel, a milestone reflecting the board’s commitment to empowering women within cricket administration.
National Elite Panel of Match Referees
For the 2025–26 season, ten referees have been appointed to the National Elite Panel, representing some of Pakistan’s most respected officials. This group will oversee high-profile domestic fixtures and ensure adherence to the PCB’s updated Code of Conduct and playing conditions. The list includes:
Aleem Khan Musa, Athar Laik, Bilal Moinul Haq Khilji, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kamran Chaudhry, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh, Nadeem Arshad, Sohail Idris, and Ali Naqvi.
Each of these individuals has demonstrated a high level of integrity and decision-making under pressure, making them valuable assets for Pakistan’s domestic competitions and talent development programs.
National Elite Panel of Umpires
Eighteen umpires have been confirmed for the National Elite Panel, responsible for officiating major domestic matches and providing mentorship to new entrants. These include:
Abdul Muqit, Ali Haider, Asif Yaqoob, Farooq Ali Khan, Faisal Khan Afridi, Ghulam Sarwar, Imran Javed, Imranullah Aslam, Kashif Sohail, Khalid Mahmood Senior, Muhammad Sajid, Nasir Hussain, Qaiser Khan, Rashid Riaz Waqar, Saqib Khan, Syed Imtiaz Iqbal, Tariq Rashid, and Zulfiqar Jan.
Many of these officials have been part of international assignments or ICC development programs, giving them the experience necessary to uphold high standards across Pakistan’s cricket calendar.
Supplementary Panels
In a move aimed at expanding the talent pipeline, the PCB has created three supplementary panels for the 2025–26 season. These include two supplementary umpire panels and one supplementary match referee panel.
The Supplementary I Panel of Umpires comprises 14 members, including Asif Farooq Awan, Hassan Mahmood, Irfan Haider, Muhammad Fayyaz, and Syed Faheem Ahmed Bukhari. These officials are next in line for promotion to the elite category based on consistent performance.
The Supplementary II Panel of Umpires, consisting of 24 individuals, features umpires recently promoted from the Emerging Panel. Notable names include Noorul Hakam, Hidayatullah, Maqbool Ahmed, Mumtaz Ali, and Muhammad Shafiq Elahi. Their inclusion indicates the PCB’s focus on rewarding performance and nurturing consistency at the grassroots level.
Additionally, a Supplementary Panel of Match Referees has been finalized with 10 members, including Abul Hasnat Rao, Ali Gohar, and Thaman Zulfiqar, who are being monitored for potential elevation to the National Elite ranks.
Emerging Panel of Umpires
The PCB’s 40-member Emerging Panel serves as a developmental pool designed to identify and train the next generation of professional umpires. It includes individuals from all regions of Pakistan, ensuring nationwide representation. Key members include Aamir Atta, Abdul Basit, Abrar Ahmed, Adnan Rashid, Khalid Younis, Muhammad Aamir Sharif, and Wasimuddin.
Members of this panel will undergo regular workshops, performance reviews, and mentorship under senior umpires and referees. The PCB’s Officiating Academy will oversee their progress, focusing on technical accuracy, use of Decision Review System (DRS) protocols, and effective communication on-field.
Women’s Panel
Continuing its efforts to promote gender equality in cricket, the PCB has retained and expanded its Women’s Umpiring Panel for the upcoming season. The 13-member panel includes representatives from Karachi, Kasur, Khairpur, Lahore, Multan, and Muzaffarabad.
Notable names include Aafia Amin, Saleema Imtiaz, Fakhra Kazim Syeda, Sania Ashraf, and Zakia Gul — all of whom have previously officiated in national-level women’s tournaments. The inclusion of women from diverse regions reflects PCB’s strategy to make cricket officiating more inclusive and representative.
This step aligns with PCB’s broader agenda to increase women’s participation not only in playing and coaching but also in administrative and officiating roles. The board has also initiated specialized training programs in collaboration with international experts to improve umpiring standards in women’s domestic competitions.
Focus on training and technology
PCB’s newly structured officiating framework emphasizes capacity-building and innovation. Under the supervision of the Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, the board plans to introduce digital learning modules, on-field simulation tools, and data analytics to monitor umpiring performance.
The Match Officials Evaluation System (MOES) — launched last season — will continue to track decision accuracy, match management, and behavioral conduct through match footage and scoring reports. These insights will directly influence promotions and international nominations.
Additionally, umpires in the elite and emerging panels will attend refresher courses on the Laws of Cricket, DRS protocols, and match control techniques. These programs will be conducted in Lahore and Karachi, ensuring accessibility to officials from all provinces.
PCB’s vision for officiating excellence
In its official statement, the PCB reaffirmed its long-term vision to elevate the standard of umpiring and match refereeing in Pakistan to match international benchmarks. The board emphasized that umpires and referees serve as “custodians of the game,” ensuring that cricket maintains its spirit and discipline.
A spokesperson for the PCB stated, “Our aim is not just to produce quality players but also world-class officials. This year’s panels represent both experience and the promise of new talent. The inclusion of emerging and female officials ensures that our officiating ecosystem continues to evolve with the game itself.”
The PCB’s focus on grooming officials also aligns with its Cricket Vision 2030, which envisions Pakistan becoming a key exporter of skilled umpires and match referees to global leagues. The initiative aims to make Pakistani officials a regular feature in ICC events, major T20 leagues, and women’s international fixtures.
Umpiring as a professional career path
In recent years, umpiring and match officiating in Pakistan have transitioned from part-time roles to professional career paths. The PCB now offers structured contracts, health insurance, and travel benefits for elite umpires and referees. Officials in the elite and international panels receive annual retainers, daily match fees, and performance-based bonuses.
This financial stability has attracted a new generation of former cricketers and sports professionals to consider officiating as a long-term profession. The introduction of specialized courses at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has further streamlined the certification process for aspiring umpires.
Officials in the Emerging Panel also benefit from mentorship opportunities with international umpires who periodically visit Pakistan under the PCB’s exchange programs with other boards, such as Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
International recognition and future prospects
Pakistan’s umpires have steadily gained recognition on the international stage over the past few years. Names like Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza have set high benchmarks globally, and the PCB’s latest appointments suggest that more officials are being prepared to follow in their footsteps.
Ali Naqvi’s inclusion as the leading match referee in the ICC International Panel reflects not only his individual credentials but also Pakistan’s strong administrative standing within global cricket governance. Similarly, Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Waqar’s international reappointments confirm their consistent performance and reliability under high-pressure scenarios.
The PCB hopes that this year’s framework will strengthen the bridge between domestic and international officiating, allowing more Pakistani officials to participate in ICC assignments, franchise leagues, and bilateral series.
Commitment to transparency and integrity
The PCB’s new officiating policy also reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and match-fixing. All officials are required to undergo mandatory anti-corruption training sessions before being assigned matches. The board continues to work closely with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) to maintain transparency in domestic and international events.
Referees have been instructed to file post-match reports documenting disciplinary issues, player behavior, and spectator conduct — part of a broader data-driven approach to maintaining integrity in cricket operations.
A step forward for Pakistani cricket
With this announcement, the PCB has effectively set the tone for the 2025–26 cricket season. The board’s commitment to upgrading officiating structures reflects a deeper strategy to make Pakistan a benchmark for cricket professionalism in South Asia.
The inclusion of women umpires, expansion of emerging panels, and digital transformation of training systems highlight the board’s progressive approach. By merging tradition with innovation, the PCB appears determined to ensure that Pakistan’s cricket ecosystem thrives both on and off the field.
The new officiating panels will take charge from the start of the 2025–26 domestic season, which begins later this year. As cricket in Pakistan continues to evolve, these officials will play a crucial role in maintaining the game’s credibility, fairness, and global appeal.
