The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S duo of Andrew Pycroft and Langton Rusere are among 20 match officials appointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to officiate at this year’s T20 World Cup, which begins in Australia on October 16.
Pycroft is part of a quartet of former international cricketers who make up a list of match referees to officiate at the eighth edition of the T20 World Cup.
The 66-year-old former Chevrons batter, who will be making his debut at the World Cup, will join chief referee of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, Ranjan Madugalle, England’s Christopher Broad and Australian David Boon on the panel of referees.
Pycroft will take charge of the tournament opener in Geelong on October 16 when Sri Lanka takes on Namibia in the first round, with Joel Wilson and Rodney Tucker the umpires in the middle.
For Rusere, it will be his second stint officiating at a T20 World Cup.
He will be the TV umpire when Australia and New Zealand kick-off the Super 12 round on October 22 in Sydney – in a replay of the 2021 final.
Rusere will be joined by Adrian Holdstock and Dharmasena (on-field), and Richard Illingworth (fourth umpire).
This will be Rusere’s second World Cup appearance this year, having officiated at the ICC Women’s World Cup, including acting as reserve umpire for the final.
ICC senior manager for umpires and referees, Adrian Griffith, described the 20 officials as the best they could pick around the globe to handle the T20 World Cup matches.
“We are delighted to announce the match officials who will be officiating at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“This group are the very best from around the world, and whilst it is a very challenging job with the eyes of the cricketing community focused on every decision, we know they will do an outstanding job and wish them the very best of luck,” said Griffith.
