The ICC have made two changes to their Elite Panel of Umpires: Michael Gough and Joel Wilson will not be part of the panel anymore.
Following their annual review and selection process, the ICC have inducted Allahuddien Paleker of South Africa and Alex Wharf of England to their Elite Panel of Umpires for 2025-26. According to an ICC media release, they will replace Wharf’s compatriot Gough and Wilson of the West Indies, both of whom had been part of the panel since 2019.
The first to win the ECB Umpire of the Year eight times in a row, Gough, a former Durham cricketer, stood in 60 Test matches, 143 ODIs, and 56 T20Is across genders. For Wilson, the corresponding numbers read 67, 153, and 90.
Their replacements, Paleker and Wharf, have both officiated in international cricket in all three formats. Paleker used to keep wicket for Western Province B and Northerns, and has been on the International Panel since 2017. Fast bowler Wharf, who went on play 13 ODIs between September 2004 and February 2005, joined the International Panel a year later.
“It’s an honour to be named in the elite panel,” said Paleker. “I look forward to reposing the faith shown in me. Being on this panel brings both pride and responsibility with it but I am confident that my experience of having officiated across formats will stand me in good stead.”
Speaking about his “amazing colleagues,” Wharf said: “I look forward to continuing to learn from and work alongside them as I embark on this exciting new chapter in my career.”
ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2025-26
Australia: Rod Tucker, Paul Reiffel
Bangladesh: Sharfuddoula
England: Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Alex Wharf
India: Nitin Menon
New Zealand: Chris Gaffaney
Pakistan: Ahsan Raza
South Africa: Adrian Holdstock, Allahuddien Paleker
Sri Lanka: Kumar Dharmasena.
