Pakistan's Asad Rauf and New Zealand's Billy Bowden
have been dropped from the Elite Panel of umpires following the annual
review, the ICC have announced. They have been replaced by England's Richard Illingworth and Australia's Paul Reiffel in the 12-member panel for the 2013-2014 season starting on July 1, 2013.
In May this year, the ICC withdrew Rauf from officiating in the
Champions Trophy in England following media reports that indicated he
was under investigation by Mumbai Police. The ICC, however, clarified
that the situation was not a factor in his exclusion from the panel.
"In Asad's case, it is important to emphasise that the recent
speculation linking his name to the IPL spot-fixing investigation was
not considered during the selectors' deliberations," Geoff Allardice,
the chairman of the ICC's umpire selection panel, said. "The selection
panel considered the overall performances of the umpires over the past
12 months when deciding which umpires would be offered contracts for
2013-14.
"It is exciting to see Richard and Paul promoted to the elite panel, but
it is also important to acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding
contributions of Asad and Billy over a long period of time," Allardice
added.
Paul Reiffel was thoroughly satisfied with the appointment. "When I
first started on CA's Project Panel Umpires program after retiring from
first-class cricket, my aim was to reach the highest level of
international umpiring. It always seemed a long way off so it's very
rewarding and exciting to achieve the goal I set myself when I first
started umpiring."
"I'd like to thank Cricket Australia for their support throughout my
umpiring career. The umpiring system and pathway in Australia is very
good, which is evidenced by the quality of Australian umpires."
Reiffel, a former Australian fast bowler, played 35 Tests and 92 ODIs
between 1992 and 1998. He has been umpiring in international cricket
since January 2009 and has stood in 4 Tests, 30 ODIs and 9 T20Is.
Rauf was included in the panel of umpires in 2006 and officiated in 48
Tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20Is. Bowden was part of the panel since 2003
during and he has officiated in 75 Tests, 181 ODIs and 19 T20Is.
Illingworth, a former left-arm spinner, played nine Tests and 25 ODIs
for England, including the 1992 World Cup final against Pakistan. He has
umpired in 4 Tests, 16 ODIs and seven T20Is since July 2010.
Elite Panel of umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Steve Davis,
Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel
Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Rod Tucker, Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel
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