ICC Europe announces new elite referees? panel

The ICC Development Program in Europe has announced a new panel of referees who will be eligible to officiate in future ICC European tournaments and matches.

The panel comes after ten years of Europe supplying UK based referees and is now able to use the experienced resources within ICC's 27 European members.

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 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 referee panel made up of five of Europe's most experienced referees. These referees are eligible to officiate at the top ICC regional events such as the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Qualifiers, Under 19 World Cup Qualifiers and Women's World Cup Qualifiers.

The panel was selected by the ICC European Umpire & Referee Selection Committee (EURSC) from a 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.

Speaking about the new initiative ICC Regional Development Manager Richard Holdsworth said, "This is a culmination of a group of dedicated and well experienced officials, most of whom are either well qualified umpires or coaches who have a great knowledge of the game."

"It is important that Europe's development events have a well experienced person managing the event from a cricketing perspective. It is their role to enforce the ICC Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket and ensure this is adhered to by players and team officials."

The new panel consists of 14 referees of whom 9 will officiate in Europe's twelve tournaments this year.

The panels are listed below:

ICC European Elite Referee Panel

John Boomer - Ireland

Richard Cox - ICC Europe

Ray Holyer - ICC Europe

David Jukes - ICC Europe

Richard O'Sullivan - ICC Europe

ICC European Referee Panel

Ken Amos - ICC Europe

Dick Auchinleck - Scotland

Doug Ferguson - Jersey

Bjarne K Jensen - Denmark

Jacques Mulders - Netherlands

Duco Ohm - Netherlands

Torsten Orhoj - Denmark

Sandy Scotland - Scotland

Steve Tovey - Netherlands
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