Five distinguished former Test match cricketers were today named by the ICC to form its new panel of international Match Referees. The panel will comprise of Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka) as Chief Referee, supported by Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Mike Procter (South Africa), Wasim Raja (Pakistan) and Gundappa Viswanath (India).

"This is an outstanding group of former internationals who are respected for their achievements throughout the cricket world," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed. "The combination of an excellent cricket pedigree and the ability to think and act decisively were the qualities required for the new role. I am delighted that Ranjan, Clive, Mike, Wasim and Gundappa have agreed to commit themselves to the ICC and assist us in raising standards throughout the world game."

All Test playing countries were asked to nominate candidates for the Referees panel and more than 30 were screened and interviewed by Chief Referee Madugalle during a recent worldwide recruitment tour. The final appointments were made jointly by Malcolm Speed and Sunil Gavaskar, chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee-Playing.

Between them the new panel has the experience of having played in almost 300 Test matches. Three of them - Lloyd, Madugalle and Viswanath - are former national captains.

Commenting on the new panel Sunil Gavaskar said: "I know that international captains and cricketers are looking to match referees to take a sensible and consistent lead on disciplinary and other matters. This new panel is a tremendous group of former Test cricketers who I am sure will command the respect of teams around the world."

Panel members have agreed two year, full time contracts with the ICC and will meet together for the first time at the Referees and Umpires Workshop near Cape Town, South Africa from 21st to 24th March. This will include seminars covering legal and procedural matters relating to cricket discipline, IT training, the psychology of decision making, a presentation from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, medical, fitness and media training.

"Restructuring the panel from 20 part time referees to five full time professionals will take standards of decision making and authority to new levels. The referees will work closely with the new panel of eight elite umpires and I am confident that with a new disciplinary code to back their judgement, we will see a distinct improvement in on-field behaviour in a short space of time. This will be to the great benefit of the players, the game and all those who follow it around the world," said Malcolm Speed.

Clive Lloyd was an ICC match referee between 1992/93 and 1995/96 while Gundappa Viswanath is a current member of the panel, although his duties have been curtailed by professional commitments. His appointment was made by Malcolm Speed with recommendations from Ranjan Madugalle. Sunil Gavaskar took no part in these discussions after declaring an interest. Viswanath and Gavaskar are brothers-in-law.

The average age of the new panel is 51 years, a full 10 years lower than the current panel.

The new panel of Match Referees will take up their duties at the beginning of April. The ICC will announce the names of the eight members of the elite panel of umpires early next week, (w/c 4th March).

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 20 7266 7913/1818
Mobile: 0787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

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