There’s no need to mention how much the umpires play a vital role in conducting a match. They not only stand up but also operate matches with complete fairness and accuracy. To ensure proper management of cricket matches, the International Cricket Council (ICC) formed an elite panel of the world’s top eight umpires in 2002.
Elite Umpires officiate in the most prestigious cricket matches, including Test matches, One Day Internationals, and major tournaments like the Cricket World Cup. The elite panel are selected from the best umpires around the world based on their experience, skill, and performance in the game of Cricket.
Currently, ICC has included Bangladeshi Umpire Sharafuddin Ibn-e-Shahid as the latest name of the elite umpires list. With the inclusion of Sharafuddin, the number of umpires in the elite panel has now increased to 12. Sharafuddin is a name who was recently famous for accurate decision-making ability in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-2025.
Although his decision was the reason for the dispute on the field, he has done his job very well.
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However, After Sharafuddin joined the elite panel, Chris Broad, an ICC match referee, was removed from the panel. Broad, who had been serving since 2003, has officiated in 619 matches across Test, ODI, and T20 formats.
How much salary do elite umpires earn?
Being an ICC Elite Umpire is a highly respected and tough position, requiring a deep understanding of Cricket, law and rules, excellent decision-making skills, and the ability to make decisions under pressure.
The elite umpires receive an annual honorarium ranging from 35,000 to 45,000 US dollars for officiating a match. They also enjoy several benefits, including free business class flights, accommodation in high-quality hotels, and match fees for their dedication to the field.
Each year, the umpires in the ICC elite panel get the opportunity to officiate in about 10 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals. The ICC’s Umpire Selection Panel reviews the performance of elite panel umpires and also considers the performance of international umpires to add them to the elite panel.
The current 12 members of the ICC Elite Panel are
Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Michael Gough (England), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa), Richard Kettleborough (England), Richard Illingworth (England), Nitin Menon (India), Ahsan Raja (Pakistan), Sharafuddin Ibn-e-Shahid (Bangladesh), and Joel Wilson (West Indies).
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