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Match officials for National Champions Cup 2026-27 announced

Naqvi and Chaudhary of ICC International Panel of Match referees to lead playing control teams throughout four-team tournament

By Web Desk

August 07, 2026

Umpire Asif Yaqoob signals during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match between Australia and Oman at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on June 05, 2024. — ICC

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday unveiled the match officials panel for the National Champions Cup 2026-27, scheduled to be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan from August 11 to 18.

According to the cricket board, former Test cricketer Ali Naqvi and Kamran Chaudhary, both part of the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control teams throughout the four-team tournament, comprising seven matches, including the final.

The umpiring panel comprises Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Khan Aafreedi, Nasir Hussain and Rashid Riaz Waqar of the ICC International Panel of Umpires, who will be accompanied by the members of the PCB National Elite Panel of Umpires – Abdul Moqeet, Syed Imtiaz Iqbal, Tariq Rasheed and Zulfiqar Jan.

In the curtain-raiser, scheduled to be played at the aforementioned venue on August 11 between Pakistan Greens and Pakistan Greens, Yaqoob and Jan will serve as the on-field umpires, while Aafreedi and Iqbal will be the third and fourth umpires, respectively.

Meanwhile, for the summit clash, Yaqoob will be accompanied by Riaz for the on-field umpiring, while Naqvi will lead the playing control team, further featuring Aafreedi as the third umpire.

Complete tournament appointments:

11 August – Pakistan Greens v Pakistan Whites, Asif Yaqoob and Zulfiqar Jan (on-field), Faisal Khan Aafreedi (third), Syed Imtiaz Iqbal (fourth) and Kamran Chaudhary (referee)

12 August – Pakistan Blues v Pakistan Gold, Rashid Riaz Waqar and Nasir Hussain (on-field), Abdul Moqeet (third), Tariq Rasheed (fourth) and Ali Naqvi (referee)

13 August – Pakistan Blues v Pakistan Whites, Faisal Khan Aafreedi and Syed Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth) and Kamran Chaudhary (referee)

14 August – Pakistan Gold v Pakistan Greens, Tariq Rasheed and Abdul Moqeet (on-field), Rashid Riaz (third), Nasir Hussain (fourth) and Ali Naqvi (referee)

15 August – Pakistan Blues v Pakistan Greens, Faisal Khan Aafreedi and Zulfiqar Jan (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third), Syed Imtiaz Iqbal (fourth) and Kamran Chaudhary (referee)

16 August – Pakistan Gold v Pakistan Whites, Nasir Hussain and Tariq Rasheed (on-field), Rashid Riaz Waqar (third), Abdul Moqeet (fourth) and Ali Naqvi (referee)

18 August – Final – Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Waqar (on-field), Faisal Khan Aafreedi (third), Nasir Hussain (fourth) and Ali Naqvi (referee)