Gudker and Kehimkar join European umpire panel

The ICC Development Program in Europe has announced a new panel of umpires who will be eligible to officiate in future ICC European tournaments and matches, including Israeli umpires Naor Gudker and Benzy Kehimkar.

The panel comes after ten years of umpire education in 27 Associate and Affiliate member countries, which has resulted in a 126% growth in the number of qualified umpires since 2002 to just under 1,200 qualified umpires.

The Europe region delivers up to twelve European tournaments each season involving over 60 teams from Under 13 to senior level which also includes the World Cup qualifiers for the under 19 and senior men's and women's games. In 2007 the region will stage an inaugural European Twenty20 Challenge involving Europe's three World Cup teams, Ireland, The Netherlands and Scotland, the latter of whom have qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa later this year.

Within the panel is a smaller elite umpire panel made up of ten of Europe's most experienced umpires. Theses umpires are eligible to officiate at the top ECC/ICC events such as the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Divisions 1-5, the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the European Division 1 Championship (WCL Qualifier).

The panel was selected by the European Umpire & Referee Selection Committee (EURSC) from an extensive list of nominees submitted by the country boards. The two panels will be reviewed at the end of each season giving each country board the opportunity to add new names to their nomination list. This review process also allows the EURSC to review the performance of existing members and to promote (and demote) where applicable.

The announcement of the new umpire panels comes almost two years after ICC announced its International Associate and Affiliate panel which officiates ICC One Day Internationals, World Cricket League events and the Intercontinental Cup.

Speaking about the new initiative ICC Regional Development Manager Richard Holdsworth said, "This is a culmination of a group of dedicated umpires who have educated themselves through training courses and experience within their countries, and have a desire to officiate at the highest level."

"It is pleasing that the number of umpires in Europe has grown so significantly over the last 10 years and in particular over the last five. These men and women are volunteers who give up much of their leisure time to officiate our great game and ensure standards are increased and the laws and spirit of the game are upheld. They are integral to the games future and this is just a reward to those in Europe who have excelled."

The new panel consists of 62 umpires of whom 52 will officiate in Europe's twelve tournaments this year.