ICC to launch Associates and Affiliates Umpires Panel

The ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Division 2 tournament in Malaysia will see the ICC take the first step towards the development of an ICC Associates and Affiliates Umpires Panel.

Less than three years after the introduction of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires as an independent panel for Test and one-day matches, the ICC has opened up the pathway to top-level umpiring for officials from its 82 Associate and Affiliate member countries.

David Richardson, the ICC's general manager (cricket), said that it was necessary to provide opportunities for officials from outside the ICC Full Member countries to develop their skills. "It is important that we provide the same development opportunities for umpires from nations outside the Test-playing nations as we do for the teams from these countries. This initiative will give us an opportunity to work with these officials and help us identify candidates to officiate at future events."

As part of the ICC's ongoing commitment to raising the standards of decision-making in international cricket, 20 umpires from the ICC's Associate and Affiliate member countries have been invited to attend the tournament in Malaysia between February 21 and 27.

The umpires will take part in a two-day seminar with Darrell Hair from the Elite Panel and Chris Kelly, the ICC Umpires and Referees Manager, before being assessed on their performances in the tournament. The most promising umpires from the event will be invited to join the ICC Associates and Affiliates Umpires Panel from which members will be appointed to ICC Intercontinental Cup matches and other Associate and Affiliate tournaments. Panel members will also be eligible for ICC events, including the ICC Trophy and the U-19 World Cup, and could even be invited to be involved in the ICC Champions Trophy and World Cup.

Members of the ICC Associates and Affiliates Umpires Panel will be asked to take a role in the training and development of other umpires within their country and region.

The tournament in Malaysia will see the Cayman Islands, Fiji, Italy, Kuwait, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Qatar and Zambia chasing the final qualifying place for the ICC Trophy 2005, which takes place in Ireland from July 1 to 13.

With the five highest ranked teams from the ICC Trophy 2005 in Ireland gaining automatic qualification for the 2007 World Cup, the stakes are high for the teams and the officials taking part in the Malaysia event.

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