Announcements
TOP SOUTH AFRICAN MATCH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED FOR SEASON 4
The crème of South African match officials will gather for Season 4 of Betway SA20 which gets underway at Newlands in Cape Town on Boxing Day, 26 December 2025.
The contingent is headlined by ICC Elite Panel Umpires Allahudien Paleker and Adrian Holdstock along with Lauren Agenbag, Stephen Harris, Lubabalo Gcuma, Arno Jacobs and Bongani Jele who are all on the ICC International Panel of Umpires. Former ICC Umpire of the Year, Marais Erasmus also returns, bringing his 267 International match experience and acumen to the group.
The list includes 18 umpires and six match referees, who will take charge of the proceedings in the six-team competition to be played at Boland Park, Centurion, Kingsmead, Newlands, St George’s Park and the Wanderers.
Paleker, a veteran of 161 T20s, is the reigning Cricket South Africa (CSA) Umpire of the Year, and will be joined by current CSA Umpires’ Umpire of the Year Abdoellaah Steenkamp.
Agenbag - who is part of the ICC Emerging Umpires Group - also recently officiated in the ICC Women’s World Cup where she stood in the semifinal between the hosts India and Australia in New Mumbai.
Betway SA20 regulars Mazizi Gampu, Siphelele Gasa, Thomas Mokorosi, Dennis Smith and Brad White are all back for Season 4 along with promising young umpires Andre Olivier and Warren Wyngaard who are set to make their League debuts this coming season.
Andre Olivier and Warren Wyngaard are the newbies among the Season 4 panel of umpires
Head of Betway SA20 Cricket Operations, Stephen Cook said: “Match officiating plays a crucial role in the success and integrity of the Betway SA20. The League is proud to have been able to secure the best available South African match officials for Season 4 and are thrilled with their performances over the past few seasons. The rise in status of our match officials on the international stage bears testimony to the backing and investment that we have made in this space. We have a great mix of experienced officials as well as some developing talent. The League is confident that the group that has been assembled will do the Betway SA20 proud on the world stage.”
Former England Test allrounder Ian Blackwell will be the third participant in the Betway SA20 England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) Umpire Exchange Programme
Blackwell will stand in three matches in reciprocal fashion after Jacobs officiated in The Hundred earlier this year.
READ MORE: Jacobs on umpire exchange opportunity
Shandre Fritz and Gerrie Pienaar, who are both on the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, Rudi Birkenstock, Clifford Isaacs, Barry Lambson and Laurence Matroos comprise the six-member team of match referees.
FULL UMPIRES LIST
Lauren Agenbag, Ian Blackwell (England - Umpire Exchange Programme), Marais Erasmus, Mazizi Gampu, Siphelele Gasa, Babalo Gcuma, Stephen Harris, Adrian Holdstock, Arno Jacobs, Bongani Jele, Thomas Mokorosi, Andre Olivier, Allahudien Paleker, Dennis Smith, Abongile Sodumo, Abdoellaah Steenkamp, Brad White, Warren Wyngaard.
FULL MATCH REFEREES LIST
Rudi Birkenstock, Shandre Fritz, Clifford Isaacs, Barry Lambson, Laurence Matroos, Gerrie Pienaar
Tags
