South Africa’s Allahudien Paleker joins ICC’s elite panel of umpires

TOPICS:
Allahudien Paleker cricketAllahudien Paleker.

Posted By: Editorial March 25, 2025

South Africa’s Allahudien Paleker has been added to the International Cricket Council’s elite panel of umpires.

England’s Alex Wharf has also been added. Paleker and Wharf have replaced England’s Michael Gough and the West Indies’ Joel Wilson. South Africa’s Adrian Holdstock has been retained on the 12-umpire panel.

“By definition, being an elite official brings with it scrutiny and pressure, but we are confident that both Allahudien and Alex possess the temperament, experience and skill to deliver consistently at this very top level,” said ICC chairperson Jay Shah.

“On behalf of the ICC, I wish them all the best for the upcoming season as well as for the future. We would also like to place on record our sincere thanks to both Joel and Michael for their services to the world game, over a number of years.”

Get Club Cricket SA news on Whatsapp

Paleker added: “This is a significant moment in my umpiring career. It’s an honour to be named in the elite panel, and I look forward to reposing the faith shown in me. Being on this panel brings both pride and responsibility, but I am confident that my experience officiating across formats will stand me in good stead.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, coaches, mentors, the ICC, and Cricket South Africa for backing me and all my colleagues who supported me over the years. To my father, Jamalodien, who was also an umpire. He is my inspiration and role model; his teachings have brought me to this stage.

“To my wife, Shakira, you have been through this incredible journey with me. I want to thank you for all the sacrifices, support, and patience you’ve shown; you have been my pillar of strength.

“I started umpiring in 2006 and got onto the first-class panel in 2009, so getting onto the elite panel 16 years after standing in my first first-class game is a lot of time on the feet and away from home. I’m just glad all the hard work has paid off.

“When I started umpiring, I wanted to get onto this panel, and there are only 12 umpires from around the world on it, so it’s quite a prestigious moment in my career.

“My big break came last year when I went to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. I had a really good tournament there and that obviously put me on the map and with the elite panel it’s all about timing, so I didn’t put too much pressure on myself.

“I told myself to go out there and control what I can control and see what happens. My goal was to be involved in the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup in South Africa and so this has happened two years earlier which I am quite happy with.

“Umpiring is about experiences and getting yourself into certain situations. Most of the time now when it comes to decision making it is second nature because my mind is programmed to know what to look for.

“You won’t get onto the elite panel within 10 years of starting an umpiring career because it takes a while to get to know yourself and how to manage a game and yourself.

“International cricket is not a finishing school, and the hard yards have to be done at provincial level. When I started umpiring a lot of the international players used to play first-class cricket and that toughened you as a young umpire.

“I remember when I started umpiring you had the likes of Neil McKenzie, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp, Robin Peterson and Vernon Philander playing. They were tough characters on the field, and they really tested you with their skills and put you under pressure as a youngster.

“In 2015 I was frustrated and wasn’t advancing as quickly as I thought I should, and he told me to be patient and control what I can control, and the rest will take care of itself.

At that time, I was a perfectionist, and nothing is perfect in umpiring. Adrian has seen a lot, so I took his advice and since adopting that everything has fallen into place.”

Cricket South Africa chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki concluded: “‘Pallies’ is a fantastic umpire and continues to prove his worth both domestically and on the international stage.

“To have two South Africans on the ICC elite panel is a brilliant achievement and we wish both ‘Pallies’ and Adrian all the best for the next 12 months.”

ICC elite Panel of umpires for 2025-26

  1. Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)
  2. Christopher Gaffaney (New Zealand)
  3. Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)
  4. Richard Illingworth (England)
  5. Richard Kettleborough (England),
  6. Nitin Menon (India)
  7. Allahuddien Paleker (South Africa)
  8. Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)
  9. Paul Reiffel (Australia)
  10. Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh)
  11. Rodney Tucker (Australia)
  12. Alex Wharf (England)

MORE latest SA cricket news