Ashoka de Silva, Davis enlisted in ICC Elite Umpires Panel

The ICC promoted Sri Lankan Ashoka de Silva and Australian Steve Davis to the Elite Panel of Umpires.

The ICC on Wednesday promoted Sri Lankan Ashoka de Silva and Australian Steve Davis to the Elite Panel of Umpires to increase the pool of top officials from 10 to 12.

The two umpires, who have been serving on the International Panel of ICC Umpires, have been elevated to the Elite Panel by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel made up of General Manager David Richardson, Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, ex-England coach David Lloyd and former India captain S Venkataraghavan.

The panel had acted on the recommendations of an ICC Umpiring Task Force made up of ICC President-Elect David Morgan, Madugalle, Cricket Australia Cricket Manager Geoff Allardice and Richardson.

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De Silva has stood in 33 Tests and 76 ODIs after making his debut in 1999 and has served previously on the Elite Panel between 2002 and 2004. The 52-year-old also played 10 Tests and 28 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1985 and 1992.

Davis, 56, has stood in 11 Tests, 71 ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals having made his top level debut in 1992. He has been a member of International Panel since 2003.

The additions to the Elite Panel will allow the top umpires to get more rest away from international action while, at the same time, allowing them time to work on their skills and mentor umpires at domestic level. The remuneration of top officials has also been improved to reflect their value to the game.

Richardson said, “These improvements reflect the ICC’s commitment to officialdom at the highest level and are part of our desire, at every level, to ensure our strong sport gets even stronger.”