LAHORE(Sports Desk)-The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized the panel of match officials for the upcoming three-match One Day International series between Pakistan and Australia, scheduled to be played across Rawalpindi and Lahore from 30 May to 4 June. The appointments bring together a mix of experienced international umpires and officials from the ICC Elite and International panels, ensuring high-level officiating standards throughout the series.
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Graeme La Brooy, who represented his country in nine Test matches and 44 ODIs between 1986 and 1992, has been appointed as the match referee for all three fixtures. He will oversee the overall conduct of the series in his capacity as part of the playing control team.
The on-field umpiring duties will be shared among some of the most experienced officials in international cricket. The panel includes Pakistan’s Ahsan Raza, England’s Richard Kettleborough, and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena, all of whom are members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. They will rotate responsibilities across the three matches along with other officials from the ICC’s emerging and international panels.
For the opening ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 30 May, Kumar Dharmasena will stand alongside Pakistan’s Asif Yaqoob as the on-field umpires. The third umpire role will be handled by Richard Kettleborough, while Faisal Khan Aafreedi will serve as the fourth umpire. Graeme La Brooya will act as match referee for the fixture.
The second ODI, scheduled for 2 June at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, will see Richard Kettleborough paired with Faisal Khan Aafreedi as on-field umpires. Kumar Dharmasena will move to the third umpire position, and Asif Yaqoob will take on fourth umpire duties, with La Brooya continuing as match referee.
In the final ODI on 4 June, also in Lahore, Kumar Dharmasena and Ahsan Raza will officiate as on-field umpires. Richard Kettleborough will serve as the third umpire, while Nasir Hussain from Pakistan will perform fourth umpire responsibilities. The match referee role will once again be held by Graeme La Brooya.
Overall, the officiating lineup reflects a balanced blend of global experience and regional representation, with officials drawn from different ICC panels to ensure consistency, neutrality, and adherence to international standards across the ODI series.
