The ICC today confirmed the composition of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees through to 1 April 2006.

There have been no new additions to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires which will comprise the following officials:

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed highlighted the positive progress that the top umpires had made over the last 12 months.

“Cricket umpires have perhaps the hardest job in international sport but over the last 12 months the members of the Emirates Elite Panel have been a credit to their profession,” said Mr Speed.

“During this period they have consistently averaged a success rate of over 94 per cent in their decision making. Over the next 12 months we look forward to continuing to work with all of these officials to maintain and improve this aspect of the game.”

There is one change to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees with Gundappa Viswanath’s contract coming to an end after three years. The following officials all remain on the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees:

It is the ICC’s view that the optimum number of matches from a scheduling and umpire workload point of view is 13 Test matches and 14 ODIs and these are the figures that the ICC will be working towards in the year ahead for these top officials.

The Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpire will be supported again by the members of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires. These officials are appointed by their home boards and stand with members of the Emirates Elite Panel in ODI matches.

It is estimated that the umpires from the Emirates International Panel will be used by the ICC for around 13 Test match appointments and 17 ODI appointments over the course of the coming year. These overseas appointments will be allocated to the better performing Emirates International Panel umpires.

The Emirates International Panel of Umpires is currently as follows: