West Indian umpires Nigel Duguid and Patrick Gustard have been named among match officials appointed for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup, scheduled for January 19 to February 11, in South Africa.
Both Duguid and Gustard are among 16 officials that will stand in games during the youth showpiece which will be played across five venues.
Duguid, 54, has already stood in one Test 15 One-Day Internationals and 44 Twenty20 Internationals, while featuring as television umpire in 36 men’s senior internationals. He will be involved in the January 20 contest between reigning champions India and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Gustard, 52, has never stood in a Test nor a men’s ODI, but has officiated in 29 T20 Internationals and served as TV official in further nine. The Jamaican will join Mick Burns on field for the January 21 encounter between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Sean Easey, ICC’s manager for Umpires and Referees said the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a very important event in the ICC calendar for both players and officials alike.
“It has long been considered a platform for future stars of the sport to make a name for themselves and for many of the participating players in this year’s edition, it is their first taste of competing on the world stage,” he said.
“Similarly, it is an important development event for the umpire pathway also. A diverse and motivated team of international match officials has been appointed, and I am confident that they will do an excellent job. I wish them the very best of luck across their time in South Africa,” Easey added.
West Indies, winners of the tournament eight years ago, will do battle in Group B alongside South Africa, England and Scotland, and will open their campaign against the hosts at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom next Friday.
In preparation, they face New Zealand at Braamfischer Oval in Gauteng on Sunday in their first official warm-up, before taking on Nepal at St Stithians in Johannesburg next Wednesday.(SportsMax)
