Simon Taufel, Aleem Dar to lead DP World ILT20 officials panel

Two of the most respected umpires in cricket history, Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar, will spearhead the DP World ILT20 Season 2 match officials panel.

They will be the on-field umpires for the tournament opener between defending champions Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriors on Friday, January 19 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The legendary duo who umpired the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final and the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup final will now be coming back together for the opening match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2.

Besides Taufel and Dar, the panel includes some of the most prominent umpires and match referees who are actively involved in all three international cricket formats.

South Africa’s Adrain Holdstock and Australia’s Rod Tucker – both from ICC Elite Panel, Sri Lanka’s Ruchira Palliyaguruge, England’s Martin Saggers, Australia’s Paul Wilson and Leslie Reifer of West Indies will be umpiring the 34-match tournament.

Roshan Mahanama, Steve Bernard and Taufel will be the match referees – Taufel will join the match referees panel after umpiring the opener.

The match officials panel for #Season2 of #DPWorldILT20 features an ensemble of seasoned umpires and match referees, with the ICC award-winning umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar spearheading the team!

Read more: https://t.co/ZMKteDvRgm#AllInForCricket pic.twitter.com/nlMEXpGSa8

— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) January 12, 2024

Cricket fans are guaranteed high-octane entertainment at the Gulf region’s biggest T20 extravaganza, which holds the distinction of being the second-highest watched T20 league around the world.

While Australia’s Taufel was also part of the DP World ILT20 Season 1 match official panel, Aleem Dar – record holder for most Tests and ODIs as on-field umpire (145 and 231) makes his maiden appearance at the tournament. 

"The DP World ILT20 is certainly a fine platform for young players. We are also incorporating two specialised TV umpires for the first time to improve accuracy and time efficiency – Paul Wilson from Australia and Leslie Reifer from West Indies," said Simon Taufel.

"I am eager and excited to be part of the DP World ILT20, which has emerged as one of the leading T20 leagues globally. The tournament provides a unique opportunity for players, particularly from the UAE to shine on an international stage and rub shoulders with some of the most reputed players in the world," added Aleem Dar.

ILT20's Season 2 features some of the biggest stars in the game, including David Warner, Andre Russell, David Willey, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Alex Hales, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Woakes and Maheesh Theekshana.

More than 100 international and 25 UAE players will feature in the tournament. The month-long League will be held in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai, with the final scheduled to be played on February 17 at the famed ‘Ring of Fire’ Dubai International Stadium.