The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its panels of umpires and match referees for the 2025-26 cricket season, introducing a balanced mix of experienced names and new talent for both men’s and women’s cricket.
Ali Naqvi has been named in the ICC International Panel of Match Officials as a match referee, while umpires Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Khan Afridi, Rashid Riaz Waqar, and Saleema Imtiaz have also been added to the list. These officials are now eligible to officiate in international matches under the ICC framework.
For the domestic structure, the PCB revealed its National Elite Panel of Match Referees, which includes 10 names such as Aleem Khan Musa, Athar Laik, Bilal Moinul Haq Khilji, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kamran Chaudhry, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh, Nadeem Arshad, Sohail Idris, and Ali Naqvi.
The National Elite Panel of Umpires consists of 18 officials, including Abdul Muqit, Ali Haider, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Khan Afridi, Farooq Ali Khan, Rashid Riaz Waqar, Qaiser Khan, Tariq Rashid, and Zulfiqar Jan, among others.
To strengthen the officiating pool, supplementary panels have also been introduced. The Supplementary I Panel features 14 umpires, while the Supplementary II Panel includes 24 umpires promoted from the Emerging Panel. In addition, a Supplementary Panel of Match Referees with 10 members has been finalized.
The PCB has also placed a strong focus on grooming future officials. A 40-member Emerging Panel of Umpires has been set up, bringing in talent from across the country to prepare them for higher responsibilities.
Women’s cricket has also been given due attention, with a 13-member Women’s Panel announced. The list includes umpires from Karachi, Kasur, Khairpur, Lahore, Multan, and Muzaffarabad, with notable members such as Aafia Amin, Salima Imtiaz, Fakhra Kazim Syeda, Sania Ashraf, and Zakia Gul.
With these appointments, the PCB aims to strengthen officiating standards in both international and domestic cricket while ensuring that women and emerging officials are provided equal opportunities to develop their careers in the game.
