Pakistan and cricket share a bond that has always been unbreakable. Fans are always waiting for the next big event that PCB has to announce. Luckily, their wait is over now!  PCB just announced the match officials for the series between Pakistan and New Zealand which will be starting on April 14 in Lahore. Former and very popular test cricketers, Ali Naqvi and Chris Broad, will be handling the teams throughout the whole tournament. Here is the official announcement, have a look.


The cricket world will now be buzzing with excitement as the great Aleem Dar, a legendary umpire who just stepped down from the ICC Elite Panel, is ready to call the shots in an upcoming series.

According to the PCB’s official statement, the great Ali Naqvi will be the match referee for five T20Is that will take place in both Lahore and Rawalpindi. And, Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, Rashid Riaz, and Ahsan Raza will be the umpires for these matches. These guys are the best of the best in the cricket world.

Image Source: MM News

There’s more! Chris Broad, who’s part of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will make a comeback to Pakistan after 14 long years to officiate five ODIs in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

In these five ODIs, the talented Ahsan Raza, Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, Joel Wilson, Langton Rusere, and Rashid Riaz will be the ones in charge of the on-field umpiring duties. And, Ahsan Raza and Joel Wilson are both part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. The rest of the crew are members of the ICC International Panel of Umpires.

Here is how you will be seeing them onscreen

14 Apr – First T20I, Lahore. Ahsan Raza and Faisal Afridi (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

15 Apr – Second T20I, Lahore. Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz (on-field), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

17 Apr – Third T20I, Lahore. Faisal Afridi and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

20 Apr – Fourth T20I, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field), Faisal Afridi (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

24 Apr – Fifth T20I, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

27 Apr – First ODI, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Chris Broad (match referee)

29 Apr – Second ODI, Rawalpindi. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Chris Broad (match referee)

3 May – Third ODI, Karachi. Langton Rusere and Faisal Afridi (on-field), Joel Wilson (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); Chris Broad (match referee)

5 May – Fourth ODI, Karachi. Joel Wilson and Asif Yaqoob (on-field), Langton Rusere (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); Chris Broad (match referee)

7 May – Fifth ODI, Karachi. Langton Rusere and Rashid Riaz (on-field), Joel Wilson (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Chris Broad (match referee)

Series schedule

14 Apr – 1st T20I, Lahore

15 Apr – 2nd T20I, Lahore

17 Apr – 3rd T20I, Lahore

20 Apr – 4th T20I, Rawalpindi

24 Apr – 5th T20I, Rawalpindi

27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi

29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi

3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi

5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi

7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi

The T20Is will begin at 9 pm and ODIs will begin at 3:30 pm.

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