BRIDGETOWN, April 27: West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor will officiate in an unprecedented fifth World Cup final on Saturday after being named by the ICC to oversee the 2007 title clash between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Bucknor will stand in the Kensington Oval encounter alongside Aleem Dar from Pakistan.

The third umpire will be Rudi Koertzen of South Africa, reserve umpire is New Zealander Billy Bowden while former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe will be match referee.

Bucknor, 60, also stood in the 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003 finals.

The only officials who come close to that mark are Englishmen Dickie Bird (1975, 1979 and 1983) and David Shepherd (1996, 1999 and 2003), who both stood in three finals.

Shepherd officiated with Bucknor in the 1996, 1999 and 2003 deciders but his retirement in 2005 meant there was always going to be at least one official standing in Saturday's match who was new to the final and 38 year-old Aleem Dar has been given that honour.

Television official Koertzen, 58, passed Shepherd's record for on-field ODI umpiring appearances earlier in the tournament.

Koertzen has now stood in 174 matches compared to Shepherd's previous mark of 172 and on Saturday will fill the role he also undertook in the 2003 final when Australia defeated India in Johannesburg.

Bowden, 44, completes an umpiring team full of experience with the four men between them having stood in the middle in 537 ODIs.

“I was happy knowing I was umpiring in a World Cup in the Caribbean and now being asked to stand in the final again makes it even more special,” said Bucknor.

“Just because the final is taking place here (in the Caribbean) does not mean it is any extra pressure for me than, say, my third or fourth finals, for example.

“Each game has its pressures and you have to deal with that.”

Aleem added: “Everyone can have their dreams and I am just very glad that I have been selected for this match which should be a very good one between the two top teams.

“I have always worked well together with Steve, he is a great umpire and we have a good understanding.”—AFP