BCCI and Cricket Australia Launch Umpire Exchange Programme for Ranji Trophy and Sheffield Shield
The Board of Control for Cricket in India and Cricket Australia have introduced an umpire exchange programme that will allow match officials from both countries to officiate in domestic cricket competitions abroad. Under the arrangement, Australian umpire Ben Treloar will officiate in two Ranji Trophy matches in India, while Indian umpire Parashar Joshi will travel to Australia for three domestic fixtures in November 2026.
The initiative is intended to provide both officials with professional experience in different cricket environments. It will also strengthen cooperation between the two cricket boards and offer umpires an opportunity to understand the playing conditions, match procedures and domestic competition structures followed in another country.
Ben Treloar's Ranji Trophy Assignments
Australian umpire Ben Treloar is scheduled to officiate in two matches during the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. His first assignment is the match between Delhi and Gujarat, scheduled from October 18 to 21 in Delhi.
Treloar is then scheduled to officiate in the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Haryana, which is set to take place from October 26 to 29 in Mumbai.
The assignments bring an Australian official into India's leading domestic first-class cricket competition as part of the exchange arrangement. The Ranji Trophy is an important part of India's domestic cricket structure and provides a platform for players to compete in the longer format of the game.
Treloar has officiated in 30 first-class matches, 20 List A matches and 39 Big Bash League fixtures. His experience also includes two women's One Day Internationals and four women's Twenty20 Internationals.
Beyond match officiating, Treloar works as the Umpire Education Officer at Cricket New South Wales. His role involves supporting umpire education and helping develop future match officials. His contribution to umpire education has been recognised with four George Borwick Memorial Awards from the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.
Parashar Joshi's Australia Schedule
As part of the reciprocal arrangement, Indian umpire Parashar Joshi will officiate in three domestic matches in Australia during November.
His programme is scheduled to begin with the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania at the Gabba in Brisbane from November 11 to 14. He will then officiate in a One Day Cup fixture between the same teams at the same venue on November 16.
Joshi's Australian assignments are scheduled to conclude with the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground from November 22 to 25.
Joshi has experience across several Indian domestic competitions. His record includes 19 first-class matches in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, 32 List A matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Deodhar Trophy, and 40 Twenty20 matches. His appointments have also included fixtures in the Indian Premier League and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The Australian assignments will give Joshi an opportunity to officiate in different domestic competitions and work in conditions distinct from those encountered in Indian cricket.
What Is the Umpire Exchange Programme?
An umpire exchange programme enables match officials from one country's cricket system to officiate in another country's domestic competitions. Such arrangements can help officials gain experience with different pitches, weather conditions, match environments and operational practices.
The BCCI and Cricket Australia initiative creates opportunities for both officials to observe and work within another domestic cricket structure. Exposure to different conditions can contribute to professional development and provide valuable experience for match officials.
For cricket boards, exchanging officials can also support closer working relationships and the sharing of knowledge about umpiring standards and match administration. The programme does not change the rules of the competitions. Instead, it provides a structured opportunity for experienced officials to work in unfamiliar domestic settings.
Importance for Domestic Cricket
India and Australia have established domestic cricket competitions that play an important role in developing players and match officials. The Ranji Trophy is India's premier domestic first-class tournament, while the Sheffield Shield is Australia's major domestic first-class competition. Australia's One Day Cup provides competition in the 50-over format.
By allowing umpires to work across these systems, the exchange programme offers professional exposure beyond their usual domestic assignments. It also highlights the role of match officials in maintaining consistent decision-making and applying the Laws of Cricket across different playing environments.
The programme is a practical example of cooperation between the BCCI and Cricket Australia beyond international matches and player tours. Its immediate focus is on the scheduled assignments of Ben Treloar and Parashar Joshi, with each official expected to work in the other country's domestic competitions.
Treloar's two Ranji Trophy appointments in October and Joshi's three fixtures in Australia in November form the central elements of the arrangement. Their participation will give both umpires opportunities to expand their experience while contributing to domestic cricket in the host country.
The exchange is therefore significant for umpire development and cricket administration, offering both officials a chance to gain first-hand knowledge of another country's domestic game.
