Elite Panel of ICC Referees
{{Short description|none}}
The Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees is composed of former international cricket players who are appointed by the ICC to oversee all Test match, One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket matches in the capacity of Match referee. The referees are ultimately in charge of all international cricket matches, and act as the ICC's representative at the grounds. In addition they are responsible for imposing penalties for infringements of the ICC Code of Conduct, and so being ex-international cricketers they can ensure that the punishments dealt out are just. The referees also form part of the ICC's umpire performance review, submitting reports about the umpires after each match.
Current members
As of 30 April 2025 the ICC Elite Panel consists of:{{cite news|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/sharfuddoula-becomes-the-first-bangladesh-umpire-to-be-included-in-the-icc-elite-panel|date=28 March 2024|title=Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel|work=ICC}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/elite-umpire-officials|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|title=ICC Elite Referee Panel|access-date=5 February 2025}}
Past members
The following people were included in the inaugural panel of elite referees but have since retired:
| class="wikitable" sortable | |||||||
| Referee | Date of Birth | Joined Panel | Left Panel | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gundappa Viswanath | 12 February 1949 | 2002 | 2004 | 15 | 80 | 0 | {{flagicon|India}} India |
| Wasim Raja | 3 July 1952 | 2002 | 2004 | 15 | 35 | 0 | {{flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan |
| Clive Lloyd | 31 August 1944 | 2002 | 2007 | 53 | 133 | 2 | {{flagicon|West Indies}} West Indies |
| Mike Procter | 15 September 1946 | 2002 | 2008 | 47 | 162 | 15 | {{flagicon|South Africa}} South Africa |
| Alan Hurst | 15 July 1950 | 2004 | 2011 | 45 | 102 | 26 | {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia |
| Roshan Mahanama | 31 May 1966 | 2004 | 2015 | 61 | 222 | 35 | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka |
| Chris Broad | 29 September 1957 | 2003 | 2024 | 123 | 361 | 138 | {{flagicon|England}} England |
| David Boon{{cite web |access-date=30 April 2025 |title=Boon ends ‘Match Referee’ innings with plenty to cherish |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/boon-ends-match-referee-innings-with-plenty-to-cherish |work=International Cricket Council}} | 29 December 1960 | 2011 | 2025 | 87 | 183 | 119 | {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia |
Controversies
= 2006 ball-tampering controversy =
{{main|2006 ball-tampering controversy}}
Mike Procter was criticised for failing to persuade umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to continue with the match, which was awarded to England when Pakistan refused to take the field in protest at being accused of ball tampering.[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/292777.html See 4th from bottom paragraph]
=2007 Cricket World Cup Final=
{{main|2007 Cricket World Cup Final}}
Jeff Crowe was seen as ultimately responsible for the failure of the five match officials (himself and umpires Bucknor, Dar, Koertzen and Bowden) to adhere to the ICC's playing conditions regarding to the number of overs required before Duckworth-Lewis can determine the outcome of a match.
This resulted in Australia and Sri Lanka having to play out three overs in near darkness, since they had been told they would otherwise have to return and play out the overs the following day. In the aftermath of this fiasco, Crowe apologised on behalf of the playing control team for the error.[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/292771.html Crowe admits error]
Records
=Tests=
Most Test matches as a referee as of 1 June 2025:{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283389.html|publisher=Cricinfo|title=Most matches as a referee: Test|access-date=8 November 2022}}
| class=wikitable
!Referee!!Period!!Matches | ||
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Ranjan Madugalle | 1993–present | 223 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} Jeff Crowe | 2004–present | 128 |
| {{flagicon|England}} Chris Broad | 2003–2024 | 123 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|Zimbabwe }} Andy Pycroft | 2009–present | 101 |
| {{flagicon|Australia}} David Boon | 2011–2025 | 87 |
=ODIs=
Most ODI matches as a referee as of 1 June 2025:{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283387.html|publisher=Cricinfo|title=Most matches as a referee: ODI|access-date=8 November 2022}}
| class=wikitable
!Referee!!Period!!Matches | ||
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|SL}} Ranjan Madugalle | 1993–present | 412 |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Broad | 2004–2024 | 361 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} Jeff Crowe | 2004–present | 341 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|IND}} Javagal Srinath | 2006–present | 275 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Andy Pycroft | 2009–present | 242 |
=T20Is=
Most T20I matches as a referee as of 1 June 2025:{{Cite web |title=Records {{!}} Twenty20 Internationals {{!}} Individual records (captains, players, umpires) {{!}} Most matches as a match referee {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com |url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/slc-twenty20-15/content/records/283386.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Cricinfo}}
| class=wikitable
!Referee!!Period!!Matches | ||
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|NZ}} Jeff Crowe | 2005–present | 200 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|ZIM}} Andy Pycroft | 2009–present | 174 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
|{{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Ranjan Madugalle | 2006–present | 172 |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Broad | 2005–2024 | 138 |
| style="background:#CFC;"
|{{flagicon|India}} Javagal Srinath | 2006–present | 136 |
References
{{reflist}}