KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar maintained his top spot in ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for the year 2015-2016, it was announced on Thursday.

Aleem Dar is just five match away from completing century as an umpire in Test matches besides standing in 172 ODIs and 35 T20 Internationals.

In the meantime, Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand and Sundaram Ravi of India have been promoted from the International Panel of ICC Umpires to the Elite Panel where they have replaced Billy Bowden and the retiring Steve Davis.

The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires for 2015-2016 included Aleem Dar (Pakistan), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Marais Erasmus (South africa), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong (all England), Sundaram Ravi (India), Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker and Bruce Oxenford (all Australia), said the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Gaffaney, who officiated in his first first-class match in 2005, made his international umpiring debut in Toronto in September 2010 in an ODI between Canada and Ireland, and has to date umpired in two Tests, 41 ODIs and 15 T20 Internationals.

On the other hand, Ravi has umpired in six Tests, 24 ODIs and 12 T20 Internationals since making his international debut in Visakhapatnam in December 2011 in an ODI between India and the West Indies.

Both the officials also umpired in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 earlier this year in Australia and New Zealand.

ICC General Manager Cricket Geoff Allardice congratulated Gaffaney and Ravi on their elevation.

“Their promotion is a testament to their hard work, as well as good decision-making and man-management skills over a period of time on the international panel. The ICC Umpire Selectors are confident that these two umpires will acquit themselves well at the top level, and that their selection will encourage umpires from all countries to aspire to elite panel selection if they are prepared to demonstrate the required ability, commitment and teamwork.

The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires was selected by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel consisting of chairman Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager Cricket, ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, ex-England player and coach and umpire David Lloyd and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, the former India captain and international umpire.—APP

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2015

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