Gough and Wilson dropped: How does ICC select its elite umpiring panel?

Gough's overturn percentage for 2024 was relatively low at 21.7%. Despite this, the former English county cricketer is widely acknowledged as one of the finest umpires in the world.

Michael Gough and Joel Wilson have been removed from the ICC’s elite panel of umpires for 2025-26, with former cricketers Allahuddien Paleker from South Africa and England's Alex Wharf replacing them. This change is part of the ICC’s regular performance-assessment process.

 

Alex Wharf, who played 13 ODIs for England between 2004 and 2005, has since established himself as a respected umpire. He has officiated in seven Tests, 33 ODIs, and 45 T20Is. Wharf has also been part of the umpire panel for various ICC white-ball tournaments, including the 2023 Champions Trophy. Expressing his excitement, Wharf thanked his colleagues and supporters, acknowledging their role in his career's success.

 

Allahuddien Paleker, a former South African first-class cricketer, has officiated in four Tests, 23 ODIs, and 67 T20Is. He was also part of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup and the Under-19 World Cup. Paleker is thrilled about his promotion to the elite panel and is eager to contribute with his vast experience. 

The full ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2025-26 includes: 

- Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)

- Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand)

- Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)

- Richard Illingworth (England)

- Richard Kettleborough (England)

- Nitin Menon (India)

- Allahuddien Paleker (South Africa)

- Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)

- Paul Reiffel (Australia)

- Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh)

- Rodney Tucker (Australia)

- Alex Wharf (England) 

 

Michael Gough

 

Gough came as a surprise given his reputation as a formidable umpire, feared by batters worldwide who often second-guess themselves when he signals an out. His overturn percentage for 2024 was relatively low at 21.7%. Despite this, the former English county cricketer is widely acknowledged as one of the finest umpires in the world.  At 45, he has officiated in 60 Test matches, 143 One-Day Internationals, and 56 Twenty20 Internationals, covering both men's and women's international cricket. 

Michael Gough career summary
Category	Span	Matches	TV Umpire	Referee	Total
By Location
Australia	2019-2025	6	0	0	6
Bangladesh	2021-2022	3	0	0	3
England	2020-2022	10	0	0	10
India	2023-2024	3	0	0	3
New Zealand	2018-2024	5	0	0	5
Pakistan	2019-2024	2	0	0	2
South Africa	2018-2018	2	0	0	2
Sri Lanka	2019-2024	6	0	0	6
U.A.E.	2016-2016	2	0	0	2
West Indies	2023-2023	1	0	0	1
Zimbabwe	2016-2016	2	0	0	2
By Region
Africa	2016-2018	4	0	0	4
Americas	2023-2023	1	0	0	1
Asia	2016-2024	16	0	0	16
Europe	2020-2022	10	0	0	10
Oceania	2018-2025	11	0	0	11
By Match Type
Home	2020-2022	10	0	0	10
Neutral	2016-2025	32	0	0	32
By Series Type
2-Team Series	2016-2025	42	0	0	42
5+ Team Tournaments	2019-2025	31	0	0	31
By Match Type in Series
Only Match in Series	2021-2024	2	0	0	2
1st Match in Series	2016-2024	15	0	0	15
2nd Match in Series	2016-2024	18	0	0	18
3rd Match in Series	2016-2024	5	0	0	5
4th Match in Series	2024-2024	1	0	0	1
5th Match in Series	2025-2025	1	0	0	1
By Tournament
Benaud-Qadir Trophy	2023-2024	2	0	0	2
Border-Gavaskar	2023-2025	3	0	0	3
ICC World Test Championship	2019-2025	31	0	0	31
Wisden Trophy	2020-2020	2	0	0	2
By Match Type in Tournament
Tournament Finals	2021-2021	1	0	0	1
Preliminary Matches	2019-2025	30	0	0	30

 

Joel Wilson

 

Wilson, who is notably remembered by Australian fans for his controversial decision during the 2019 Ashes, where he ruled Ben Stokes not out after he missed a sweep off Nathan Lyon with England needing two runs to win, despite Australia having already used up their reviews in the memorable Headingley Test, along with Gough, has been removed from the panel responsible for officiating top-tier international matches, including major Test series and ICC events. 

Joel Wilson career summary
Category	Span	Mat	Umpire	TV Umpire	Referee
In Format
Test matches	2011-2025	67	47	20	0
One-Day Internationals	2011-2025	140	98	42	0
Twenty20 Internationals	2011-2024	71	50	21	0
In Host Country
Australia	2015-2025	18	11	7	0
Bangladesh	2015-2024	9	6	3	0
England	2015-2024	34	20	14	0
India	2016-2024	27	19	8	0
Ireland	2015-2017	4	2	2	0
New Zealand	2014-2017	6	4	2	0
Pakistan	2019-2025	13	7	6	0
South Africa	2016-2024	14	8	6	0
Sri Lanka	2017-2025	10	6	4	0
U.A.E.	2012-2025	22	13	9	0
U.S.A.	2012-2018	6	5	1	0
West Indies	2011-2024	109	89	20	0
Zimbabwe	2018-2018	6	5	1	0
In Continent
Africa	2016-2024	20	13	7	0
Americas	2011-2024	115	94	21	0
Asia	2012-2025	81	51	30	0
Europe	2015-2024	38	22	16	0
Oceania	2014-2025	24	15	9	0
Home vs Away
Home	2011-2024	109	89	20	0
Away	2012-2018	6	5	1	0
Neutral	2012-2025	163	101	62	0
In Tournament Type
2 team series	2011-2025	198	145	53	0
3-4 team tournaments	2013-2017	14	9	5	0
5+ team tournaments	2012-2025	122	86	36	0
In Match Number per Series
Only match in series	2011-2020	8	5	3	0
1st match in series	2012-2025	53	44	9	0
2nd match in series	2011-2025	54	38	16	0
3rd match in series	2011-2024	45	37	8	0
4th match in series	2011-2024	20	7	13	0
5th match in series	2011-2025	18	14	4	0
In Major Trophies
World Cup	2015-2023	23	15	8	0
Basil D'Oliveira	2017-2020	4	2	2	0
Benaud-Qadir Trophy	2023-2024	3	2	1	0
Border-Gavaskar	2023-2025	3	2	1	0
Botham-Richards Trop	2022-2022	3	3	0	0
ICC Champions Trophy	2025-2025	5	2	3	0
ICC World Test Championship	2019-2025	44	33	11	0
Men's T20 World Cup	2016-2024	27	15	12	0
The Ashes	2017-2023	8	5	3	0
World Cup Qualifier	2014-2018	7	6	1	0
In Finals
Tournament finals	2013-2025	5	2	3	0