NEW DELHI: India’s Nitin Menon has maintained his position as the only Indian representative in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires for the 2025-26 season, following the global cricket body’s annual review and reshuffle of its top officiating personnel.
The updated panel sees South Africa’s Allahudien Paleker and England’s Alex Wharf earning promotions to cricket’s most prestigious officiating group, while Michael Gough and Joel Wilson have been removed from the lineup. Notably, Menon continues to be ranked second globally, behind only England’s Richard Illingworth, cementing his reputation among cricket’s finest officials.
ICC Chair Jay Shah congratulated the new appointees while acknowledging the departing umpires’ contributions. “By definition, being an elite official brings with it scrutiny and pressure, but we are confident that both Allahuddien and Alex possess the temperament, experience, and skill to deliver consistently at this very top level,” Shah said in an official statement.
“On behalf of the ICC, I wish them all the best for the upcoming season as well as for the future. We also sincerely thank Joel and Michael for their services over the years,” he added.
Paleker, who transitioned to umpiring after a first-class cricket career spanning 68 matches for Western Province, expressed his gratitude for the appointment. “This is a significant moment in my umpiring career. Being on this panel brings both pride and responsibility,” he said, adding that his father Jamalodien, also an umpire, remains his primary inspiration.
Wharf, who represented England in 13 ODIs and played 121 first-class matches before turning to officiating in 2010, similarly expressed his appreciation. “I appreciate the support I’ve received over the years from both the ICC and ECB, and I look forward to this new chapter,” the 48-year-old said.
For Menon, who first joined the Elite Panel in 2020, this continued recognition highlights his consistency in decision-making and composure under pressure. The 40-year-old from Indore has been widely praised for his excellent decision-making record, particularly with the Decision Review System (DRS), where he maintains one of the lowest overturned rates among international umpires.
The Elite Panel of 12 umpires is responsible for officiating the most high-profile international cricket matches, including ICC World Cups, Test matches, and bilateral series. The panel is reviewed annually based on performance metrics, with factors including decision accuracy, player management, and consistency under pressure all factoring into selection.
The full ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2025-26 includes Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Nitin Menon (India), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Allahudien Paleker (South Africa), Alex Wharf (England), Christopher Brown (New Zealand) and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh).