ICC Intercontinental Cup represents a change of scene for Baldwin

For Paul Baldwin, one of the umpires officiating during finals week in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, making decisions in the match between Bermuda and Kenya will represent a distinct change from his normal day-to-day routine.

Baldwin is a member of the ICC's Associate and Affiliate Umpires' Panel but his full-time job is in Muchengladbach, Germany, as Garrison Information Officer for the British Army

The 32 year-old handles the media relations of 15 units (involving 16,000 people) from Norway in the north to Turkey in the south, a job he has done for three years.

Before that, Baldwin - a civilian, despite being employed by the Army - worked for the Royal Air Force as a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor, a role that involved advising on transportation logistics of anything from ammunition and weapons to flammable liquids, acids and corrosive material.

It all begs the question of how Baldwin ended up getting involved in cricket umpiring.

"I used to captain my local RAF station side in Germany and, in common with many people that play club cricket, I went out to the middle to do ten overs of umpiring when I was not batting or in the field," he said.

"I ended up giving a poor decision and when I got off the field it was suggested I did not go out again until I had done an umpire's course.

"I did that in 2000 and started umpiring soon afterwards. By the following year I was umpiring in the ICC Trophy and then stood in the European Championships in 2002."

Three years on, Baldwin is a member of the ICC's Associate and Affiliates Umpires Panel, formed in April this year as part of the ICC's Development Program. Its formation is an acknowledgement that any plans to spread the game have to target officials as well as players and coaches.

"There were rumours of a Panel being formed from amongst the non-Test playing countries and I was nominated by the European Cricket Council to go to Malaysia for the World Cup Qualifying Series Division 2 tournament in February 2005," he said.

"All the umpires there were assessed and at the end of it I was fortunate enough to be named in the inaugural ICC Associate and Affiliate Umpires Panel."

Baldwin is not the only member of that ten-man panel standing in the ICC Intercontinental Cup finals in Windhoek as he is joined by Roger Dill of Bermuda, who is officiating in the Ireland - UAE encounter.

Making up the quartet of umpires in action during the finals are two members of the Emirates International Panel, Russell Tiffin of Zimbabwe and New Zealand's Tony Hill.

For Baldwin, who stood in the ICC Intercontinental Cup Europe group match between Ireland and Scotland in Aberdeen in August, finals week is an occasion to be savoured.

"I'm just honoured to be invited to umpire in this tournament which is probably one of the most prestigious for a non-professional official so I'm very proud to get this chance," he said.

Baldwin's commitment to umpiring has meant his cricket gear has gone into the loft and, as he is ambitious to progress as an official, it may stay there for some time.

"In the future I'd love to umpire at the highest level I can," said Baldwin.

"Ideally I'd love to umpire a match at Lord's and I'd also love to stand in a Test match or one-day international."

And what does he know about the two teams he will be umpiring in Namibia?

"I stood in an ICC Trophy warm-up game involving Bermuda four years ago but I've not stood in any matches involving Kenya and know very little about them.

"I'm obviously aware of players like Steve Tikolo and know that Gus Logie is Bermuda's coach but in Germany you don't get much coverage of cricket."

The ICC Associate and Affiliate Umpires Panel is made up of officials from non-Test playing countries.

High-performing members of the Panel may be considered for other ICC Events including the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, to be held in Sri Lanka in February 2006, and they could even be invited to be involved in the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Cricket World Cup.

The establishment of the Associate and Affiliate Umpires Panel is part of the ICC's commitment to raising the standards of decision-making in international cricket. It followed the introduction of the Emirates Elite Panel in 2002.

The Associate and Affiliates Umpires Panel opens up a pathway to top level umpiring for officials from the 86 Associate and Affiliate member countries.

Match officials

Semi-finals:

Semi-final 1: Ireland v United Arab Emirates, Wanderers Sports Club, 23, 24 & 25 October - Roger Dill and Russell Tiffin

Semi-final 2: Kenya v Bermuda, United Sports Club, 23, 24 & 25 October - Paul Baldwin and Tony Hill

Final:

Wanderers Sports Club, 27, 28 & 29 October - Tony Hill and Russell Tiffin

Details of the Emirates Elite Panels of Umpires and Referees, the Emirates International Panel of Umpires and the ICC Associate and Affiliate Umpires Panel can be found here

There will be a new name on the ICC Intercontinental Cup this year following Scotland's success in the inaugural Event, in 2004, when they defeated Canada in the final.

Throughout the build-up to the 2005 finals week, the ICC's corporate affairs department has issued information on each of the four semi-finalists and further details of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

The final release ahead of the ICC Intercontinental Cup semi-finals will be made on Saturday 22 October when we will issue a final preview of the two matches that start the following day. It is planned that this release will be made by 1400 GMT.

Further details of this year's ICC Intercontinental Cup, including previous media releases, can be found here