The crème of South African match officials will gather for Season 4 of SA20 which gets underway at Newlands in Cape Town on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.
The contingent is headlined by ICC Elite Panel Umpires Allahudien Paleker and Adrian Holdstock along with Lauren Agenbag, Arno Jacobs, Bongani Jele, Lubabalo Gcuma and Stephen Harris, 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 19 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 Abdoellah Steenkamp.
Agenbag also recently officiated in the ICC Women’s World Cup, where she stood in the semi-final between the hosts India and Australia in New Mumbai.
SA20 regulars Dennis Smith, Siphelele Gasa, Brad White, Thomas Mokorosi, Mazizi Gampu and Siphelele Gasa are all back for Season 4 along with promising young umpires Andre Olivier and Warren Wyngaard who are set to make their Betway SA20 debuts this coming season.
Head of SA20 Cricket Operations, Stephen Cook said: “Match officiating plays a crucial role in the success and integrity of the 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 SA20 proud on the world stage.”
Former England Test allrounder Ian Blackwell will be the third participant in the 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.
Shandre Fritz and Gerrie Pienaar, who are both on the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, Laurence Matroos, Barry Lambson, Clifford Isaacs and Rudi Birkenstock, comprise the six-member team of referees.
Full Umpires List:
Babalo Gcuma, Arno Jacobs, Stephen Harris, Bongani Jele, Abdoellah Steenkamp, Dennis Smith, Siphelele Gasa, Brad White, Thomas Mokorosi, Allahudien Paleker, Lauren Agenbag, Abongile Sodumo, Mazizi Gampu, Adrian Holdstock, Ian Blackwell (England), Andre Olivier, Marais Erasmus and Warren Wyngaard.
Full Match Referees List:
Shandre Fritz, Gerrie Pienaar, Laurence Matroos, Barry Lambson, Clifford Isaacs and Rudi Birkenstock.
