Northern Territory Cricket is pleased to announce that Rob Stewart and Imran Muhammad have been selected by Cricket Australia (CA) as part of the State and Territory Umpire Panel (STUP) for season 2025/2026.
The inclusion of Stewart and Muhammad marks the first time that members from the Northern Territory Cricket Match Officials Association (NTCMOA) have been recognised as part of the STUP panel.
Alongside local cricket commitments, members of respective STUPs can be appointed to officiate in CA competitions, including the Weber Women’s Big Bash League, Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), Toyota Second XI, CA Underage National Championships and as Fourth Umpires in the KFC Big Bash League.
In addition to his STUPs inclusion, Stewart has also been selected to undertake the CA Level 3 High Performance Umpiring Course.
This course serves as a vital stepping stone between Level 2 Representative Accreditation and ICC-level Accreditation, the benchmark for elite umpires on the Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel (CACUP). It is specifically designed to prepare umpires for the demands of First-Class and List A domestic cricket, representing a significant progression towards officiating at the national level.
This is a landmark achievement for the NT, with Stewart becoming the first NT-based representative match official to be selected for this high performance pathway; it reflects both Stewart’s individual commitment to the craft and the increasing recognition of umpiring talent emerging from the Northern Territory.
Rob Stewart quote:
“It's great to see NT umpires represented on the STUP Panel for the first-time, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue developing my skills at the next level. I just want to say a big thank you to the NTCMOA and NT Cricket for the many years of hard work which have made these appointments a reality”.
Imran Muhammad quote:
“I’m incredibly honoured to have been selected for the STUP Panel. This is a proud moment in my journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the game I love. I look forward to continuing to learn, grow, give my best on the field and make NT proud”.
Nick Winter, Head of Cricket quote:
“Northern Territory Cricket would like to extend congratulations to Rob and Imran for their respective selections, which shows the increasing umpire development pathways through the NTCMOA and local tournaments including DDCC, Kookaburra Junior Strike League and Top End Series”.