BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, CMC – West Indian umpires Nigel Duguid and Patrick Gustard have been named to stand in the opening round of the International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup which gets underway here next Friday.
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.
The 52-year-old Gustard, meanwhile, 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.
Both Duguid and Gustard were among 16 officials announced for the youth showpiece which runs until February 11 across five venues.
“The U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a very important event in the ICC calendar,” said Sean Easey, the ICC’s manager – Umpires and Referees.
“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.
“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.”
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.
