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No Indian in ICC Elite Umpires' panel

Dubai, Apr 7 (UNI) No Indian found a place while two Pakistanis figured in the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires after the expansion of the panel from seven to ten here today.

All of the existing Emirates Elite Panel members were retained while Mark Benson from England, Billy Doctrove from Dominica and Asad Rauf from Pakistan joined the top tier of international cricket officialdom following the annual review of umpire performance at the end of March, an ICC release said here today.

The composition of the panel was determined by ICC chief executive Malcom Speed and ICC Cricket Committee chairman Sunil Gavaskar after taking into consideration the correct decision percentages of umpires and the reports from captains and match referees.

New Panel member Asad Rauf, who has played five Tests and 18 ODIs for Pakistan, expressed his happiness on the decision.

''It's the biggest news of my long cricket career as a player and umpire. It's a dream come true but I believe the biggest thing is not getting onto the panel but staying there and that will be my focus,'' said Rauf, who also officiated in the recent India-Pakistan series.

Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires 2006-07: Mark Benson (Eng), Billy Bowden (NZ), Steve Bucknor (WI), Aleem Dar (Pak), Billy Doctrove (WI), Darrell Hair (Aus), Daryl Harper (Aus), Rudi Koertzen (SA), Asad Rauf (Pak), Simon Taufel (NZ).

Replacements for the three vacancies on the second-tier Emirates International Panel will be announced in due course. The composition of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees is also under discussion and will be confirmed soon.

UNI XC DH PDS KP1602

Zafar laments decline in hockey

Bhopal, Apr 7 (UNI) Former Olympian Zafar Iqbal today lamented the decline in the standard of hockey in India and called for concerted efforts by Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and other organisations to restore people's interest in the game. ''In the absence of top class hockey, people were attracted towards cricket. IHF and other organisations should take keen interest to organise national level matches,'' he told reporters here. The former captain and coach of.....

Too many cooks (captains) will spoil the broth

Undated, (UNI) Well, the one-day series is over and can be buried instantly considering the hurried but thoughtless nature of the game. Admittedly, the climatic conditions were more hostile than the Indians at full strength. But even so the fight of the Englishmen was more in the shape of hope and prayer than any solid version of a calculated revenge. I have never known a professional English cricket team with so many loose ends. In short.....

Hamas urges EU not to suspend aid to government

GAZA, Apr 7 (Reuters) Hamas today urged the European Commission not to suspend aid to the new government led by the Islamic militant group, saying it would be a form of ''collective punishment'' on the Palestinian people. ''We urge Europe to adopt the language of dialogue without preconditions. Setting preconditions will not help the stability of the region,'' Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas lawmaker, told Reuters. A senior British official said the European Commission would announce on.....
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