Explained: What is the Cricket Australia-BCCI Umpire exchange programme for Ranji Trophy and Sheffield Shield?

Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced an umpire exchange programme for their domestic cricket competitions. Under this programme, each board will send one umpire to officiate in the other country's domestic matches. Australian umpire Ben Treloar will officiate in two Ranji Trophy matches, while India's Parashar Joshi will stand in two Sheffield Shield matches and one One Day Cup fixture.

Treloar is already in Delhi for the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Gujarat, scheduled from October 18 to 21. He will then travel to Mumbai to officiate in the match between Mumbai and Haryana from October 26 to 29. The programme will give him experience of officiating in different Indian cities.

Meanwhile, Joshi will begin his Australian assignment with the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania at the Gabba from November 11 to 14. He will then officiate in a One Day Cup match at the same venue on November 16 before completing his tour with the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground from November 22 to 25. 

Throughout this article, we will share complete details about the Cricket Australia-BCCI umpire exchange programme for the Ranji Trophy and Sheffield Shield.

What is the Cricket Australia-BCCI Umpire special exchange programme?

Cricket Australia has sent umpire Ben Treloar to India to officiate in two Ranji Trophy matches as part of the special exchange programme with the BCCI. His first assignment is the match between Delhi and Gujarat, which is being played from October 18 to 21.

Treloar’s second assignment will be the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Haryana, scheduled from October 26 to 29 in Mumbai. The programme will allow the Australian umpire to gain experience of Indian domestic cricket and its playing conditions.

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Meanwhile, Indian umpire Parashar Joshi will travel to Australia to officiate in two Sheffield Shield matches and one One Day Cup match. Joshi has experience of 19 first-class matches, 32 List A matches and 49 T20 games. The exchange programme will give both umpires an opportunity to work in different domestic cricket environments and gain experience across formats.

How will the umpire exchange work in the Ranji Trophy and Sheffield Shield?

The 2026/27 umpire exchange programme between Cricket Australia (CA) and the BCCI is not the first time the two boards have sent officials to gain experience in different playing conditions. Previous exchanges involved Mick Martell, Paul Wilson, C. Shamshuddin, John Ward and Greg Davidson between 2014 and 2020. The umpires who took part in these programmes have praised their role in helping officials develop their skills.

Australian umpire Ben Treloar brings experience from 30 first-class matches, 20 List A matches and 39 Big Bash League games. He has also officiated in two Women’s ODIs and four Women’s T20Is. Away from the field, Treloar works as Cricket New South Wales’ Umpire Education Officer. He has received four George Borwick Memorial Awards from the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association for his contribution to umpire education, according to a Cricket Australia press release.

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Indian umpire Parashar Joshi has officiated in 19 first-class matches, 32 List A matches and 40 T20 games, including matches in the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His Australian assignment will begin with Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the Gabba from November 11 to 14. He will then officiate in the One Day Cup fixture between the two teams on November 16 before completing the exchange with the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland at the SCG from November 22 to 25.

Why the umpire exchange matters for Indian and Australian cricket

The umpire exchange programme between Cricket Australia (CA) and the BCCI will help officials gain experience in different playing conditions and domestic cricket competitions. By officiating in the Ranji Trophy and Sheffield Shield, Ben Treloar and Parashar Joshi will learn how matches are managed in different cricket environments. This experience can help them improve their decision-making and officiating skills.

The programme will also strengthen the relationship between Indian and Australian cricket. Both countries have strong domestic cricket structures, with the Ranji Trophy focusing on first-class cricket in India and the Sheffield Shield playing a similar role in Australia. Working in these competitions will help the umpires understand different pitches, weather conditions and match situations.

Such exchanges can also support the long-term development of match officials. Exposure to different playing conditions and cricketing cultures can help umpires prepare for bigger assignments in the future. The initiative also gives both boards an opportunity to share knowledge and improve umpiring standards across domestic cricket.