Simon Taufel set to officiate ILT20 Season 3 opener

NEW DELHI: Simon Taufel, widely regarded as one of the best umpires in

cricket

history, returns to lead the match officials panel for the

ILT20 Season 3

.
Taufel, renowned for officiating high-profile matches like the 2011 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final and the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup final, will be joined by Roshan Mahanama as the

match referee

for the region's premier T20 tournament.
The ILT20 Season 3 will feature a diverse panel of experienced umpires from various countries, including Sri Lanka, Australia, England, and the UAE.
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"I am thrilled to return to the ILT20 for its third season. This league has set a benchmark for T20 tournaments worldwide, not only for the opportunities it provides international and local players but also for match officials in the region to officiate in a tournament that upholds the highest standards," said Taufel. "Like Season 2, we will be continuing with specialist TV umpires – Paul Wilson and Leslie Reifer across the competition.”

Taufel and Mahanama will alternate as match referees throughout the tournament, ensuring consistent application of the rules and regulations.
Additionally, ICC

Umpire

Coach Dennis Burns will conduct coaching and upskilling sessions for UAE umpires, contributing to the development of

local officiating talent

.
The tournament will commence with a grand opening ceremony on January 11, 2025, featuring performances by Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, and Sonam Bajwa.

On January 11, the defending champions,

MI Emirates

, will take on the

Dubai Capitals

in the season opener, which will be officiated by Taufel, Shiju Mannil, Leslie Reifer, and Bismillah Ian Shinwari.
The six ILT20 franchises have retained several marquee players from the previous season, including Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, David Warner, and Nicholas Pooran.
Additionally, new signings like Jason Roy, Tim Southee, Fakhar Zaman, and Shai Hope will add further excitement to the tournament.