Which 2015 final umpire had played for Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup final?

Kumar Dharmasena was the 2015 final umpire who had played for Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup final. He stood as one of the two on-field umpires when Australia defeated New Zealand at Melbourne.

Dharmasena had been a Sri Lankan international all-rounder before moving into officiating. In the 1996 final at Lahore, Sri Lanka defeated Australia by seven wickets to win its first World Cup title, and Dharmasena was part of that victorious Sri Lankan side. Nearly two decades later, he appeared in another World Cup final in a completely different role.

The other 2015 on-field umpire was England’s Richard Kettleborough. Ranjan Madugalle was the match referee, while Marais Erasmus served as the television umpire, making them plausible but incorrect options. Dharmasena’s unusual player-to-umpire path made him the first person to participate in a World Cup final in both roles.