MUMBAI, April 17: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has responded to some controversial umpiring recently by assigning a new panel to pick and assess the international and Elite Panel umpires.

Chief Executive of the ICC Malcolm Speed said the earlier method, where he and Sunil Gavaskar, ICC’s cricket committee chairman, chose the umpires, would now be changed.

“The pair will now be replaced by a new four-member panel consisting of David Richardson, ICC general manger of cricket, Ranjan Madugalle, chief referee, David Lloyd, former England coach and a commentator and S Venkataraghavan, former Indian captain and umpire,” Speed said.

The ICC will also now be expanding the Elite Panel by adding two new members to the present 10.

The new selection process, Speed added, would give even chances to umpires from different member countries.—Agencies