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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is hopeful that the funds it has expended in clearing Kusal Perera of doping charges will be covered by the ICC

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-May-2016’WADA code ineffective in safeguarding clean athletes’

Tony Irish, the executive chairman of FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations), has expressed his concerns over some of cricket’s anti-doping regulations following the ICC’s withdrawal of disciplinary proceedings against Kusal Perera.
“We are pleased that the right result has been achieved and welcome the decision, however, this case brings to light several issues in regard to anti-doping regulation in cricket” Irish said in a statement.
“The damaging impact of the error on Kusal’s career is not to be underestimated. He has been removed from the game for a significant period of time in the middle of a developing career, for reasons which have been found to be unjustifiable.
“The case highlights many of the pre-existing concerns held by FICA and athlete representatives around the world around the inflexibility and unfairness of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code, the requirement for sports to be compliant and its appropriateness for sophisticated team sports such as cricket. We have voiced these concerns to the ICC over the past year, and will seek to discuss this further.
“The concerns raised have included the view that the WADA programme is ineffective in safeguarding the interests of clean athletes and is open to penalties being imposed on players who are not ‘cheats’.
“FICA is supportive of fair, proportionate and appropriate measures to ensure that cricket is a clean sport. However, the game must ensure that any measures are effective and tailored to the game of cricket.”

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) could not rule out further legal action after the ICC withdrew its charges against wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera, board president Thilanga Sumathipala said. SLC is unlikely to initiate a lawsuit against the ICC, but was hopeful that the funds expended in clearing Perera will be covered by the governing body. The Qatar-based lab whose findings led to Perera’s five-month suspension will also come under scrutiny.”We have to definitely get our costs back,” Sumathipala said. “By that I mean the direct costs. The indirect costs are colossal. So we will discuss that separately.”Sumathipala said the board had spent at least 13 million rupees (approx. USD 92,000) on the case. This included the money spent on a polygraph test on Perera, a hair analysis commonly used in forensics and a separate urine test, the results of which all helped leverage Perera’s case and bought his legal team time. SLC had also paid for the consultation of UK-based Morgan Sports Law firm, during the challenge on the lab’s findings.Sumathipala said the board would discuss the matter with Perera and the nation’s sports ministry before any further action is decided upon.”We got the hard part right and now we have a definite claim, now that we have proved our player is innocent,” Sumathipala said. “I’m sure Sri Lanka Cricket will go forward and discuss with ICC. We can’t sour the relationship also. If the sports minister has a directive that is separate, we want to discuss that as well. Definitely the player has a claim.”Sumathipala also likened the results of Perera’s case to Muttiah Muralitharan’s campaign to have his action, and later his doosra, cleared by the ICC. On that occasion, Muralitharan’s action proved a catalyst for further scientific testing, which ultimately led to a landmark change in the ICC’s playing conditions – specifically, 15 degrees of flexion was deemed legal, as almost all bowlers were found to straighten their arms.In addition to consulting local and foreign legal teams, SLC and Perera’s management also approached chemical pathologists and independent lab operators for their views.”We decided to go the scientific route,” Sumathipala said. “We have seen SLC do the same thing in the past with the straightening of the arm issue. We did it after Murali was no-balled in Boxing Day 1995. Then we did it again when the doosra was banned. Once we concluded that route, we were that much stronger with the ICC.”Prompted by our scientific evidence, we have taken the ICC to a different level about how they should process this kind of situation in the future. We’re happy about that. We’ve taken an approach that we’re not sure anyone has taken in the past. We were very happy.”Sumathipala said the board believed in Kusal from the outset. His board had initially set aside five million rupees to fight the case, but that figure was repeatedly revised upwards.”We spoke about this at the board and we decided that we trusted him, and that he was telling the truth. We decided to represent him as best we can. We thought that we would be able to get him cleared, so we set aside 15 million rupees to spend on him, which is unprecedented for this board.”Perera is eligible for selection for Sri Lanka with immediate effect, but the selectors have not yet decided whether to add him to the Test squad currently in England.

The Premier League is set to have a match take place on Christmas Eve for the first time in 28 years this year, according to reports.

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Molineux match moved to Christmas EveOriginally scheduled for December 24Supporters groups angered by decisionWHAT HAPPENED?

The clash between Wolves and Chelsea at Molineux Stadium was originally scheduled to be played on December 23, but reports that it has been moved back by 24 hours as part of the Christmas programme.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

states that the decision has been made to fulfill the Premier League's broadcasting requirements.

The match will be the first since 1995 to take place on December 24, when Leeds beat Manchester United 3-1 thanks to goals from Brian Deane, Tony Yeboah and Gary McAllister.

WHAT THEY SAID

The Football Supporters’ Association has hit out at the move, saying: "It would be a huge kick in the teeth for supporters who have consistently made clear their opposition to games the day before Christmas – as it’s not the first time this has been proposed.

"Back in October 2017 there were reports that Sky Sports wanted to broadcast games on Christmas Eve which we said represented: 'a new low point in putting the interests of football broadcasters over those of matchgoing fans'.

"It would put many supporters in an impossible choice between going to the match or spending festive time with their families – and that’s before you factor in the added challenges of travelling on a Sunday (which Christmas Eve falls on this year)."

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Premier League is yet to confirm the rescheduling of the fixture. In the meantime, Chelsea will take on Arsenal in the league on Saturday, while Wolves will visit Bournemouth.

Sir Elton John believes Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be having “more fun” at Wrexham than any movie or television show they have ever made.

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Hollywood stars completed takeover in 2021Guided Welsh outfit back into the Football LeaguePop superstar a former chairman at WatfordWHAT HAPPENED?

The Hollywood superstars completed a stunning takeover at SToK Racecourse back in the spring of 2021. They have experienced an emotional roller coaster since then, with the pain of Wembley and play-off defeats being countered by the joy of a record-breaking promotion back into the Football League.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT SIR ELTON JOHN SAID

Sir Elton knows all about the stresses of club ownership from his time as chairman of Watford, but believes Reynolds and McElhenney will be loving the ride. The music industry icon has told : “It’s great and I phoned Ryan when they won and they got promoted and I just think it’s fantastic. They’re on the ride that I was on. It’s slightly different because times have changed but it’s no more un-exciting… it’s so exciting for them. I bet they have more fun doing that than any movie they’ve ever made.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Watford climbed into the top tier of English football during Sir Elton’s time at the helm, finishing as runners-up behind Liverpool in 1983, and reached the FA Cup final in 1984 – losing 2-0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Reynolds and McElhenney have never shied away from the fact that they want to see Wrexham become a Premier League side at some point, with considerable faith and funds being invested in a project that currently has the Welsh outfit sat fourth in the League Two table.

Mark Boucher has called on the ICC to think about “what’s important to the game and what isn’t” when they sanction players for breaching the code of conduct

Firdose Moonda01-Mar-2014Mark Boucher, South Africa’s former wicketkeeper, has called on the ICC to think about “what’s important to the game and what isn’t” when they sanction players for breaching the code of conduct. Boucher was referencing the discrepancies in the sanctions handed out to Faf du Plessis and David Warner during the ongoing series.In ‘s television build-up to the third Test match in Cape Town, Boucher said the ICC should “get its ducks in a row,” when it comes to applying discipline.David Warner was fined 15% of his match fee for making what match referee Roshan Mahanama called “disrespectful,” comments which “publicly denigrated an opponent,” when he suggested to an Australian radio station that South Africa had achieved reverse swing in Port Elizabeth through dubious means.Contrastingly, Faf du Plessis had to hand over 50% of his match fee for a second clothing violation within the last 12 months. Du Plessis took to the field in Port Elizabeth with green shoelaces instead of the white ones which are stipulated as the acceptable gear for Test matches. In November 2013, du Plessis wore shoes with a red tongue instead of a white one.Both those are in contravention with clause 2.1.1 of the ICC’s code of conduct for players and player support personnel. Because they occurred within a 12-month period, the minimum fine of half the player’s match fee, was imposed. Boucher said he thought du Plessis’ offence was not in the same vein as Warner’s and he could not understand why the South African was so harshly punished.

Stephen Cook has been appointed first-class and 50-overs captain. Neil McKenzie will lead the 20-over side while Temba Bavuma will serve as vice-captain across formats

Firdose Moonda09-Jun-2014A new-look Lions leadership pack, headed by Stephen Cook, will take the franchise into the 2014/15 season. Cook has been appointed first-class and 50-overs captain while Neil McKenzie will lead their 20-over side. Batsman Temba Bavuma will act as deputy in all three formats. Alviro Petersen, who stepped down as captain last season, remains part of Lions’ squad but has not been tasked with any leadership duties.”I am greatly honoured to have been given this job. I grew up on the banks of the Wanderers watching my dad play and leadership is something I’ve always wanted to be involved in,” Cook told ESPNcricinfo. “I know its going to be a tough challenge but I am really looking forward to it.”After finishing second in the first-class competition and winning the twenty-over trophy in the 2012/13 season, Lions were rudely brought back down to earth last summer. They finished bottom of the points table in all three competitions in a season that was plagued by injuries and unhappiness. While seamer Chris Morris battled an ankle injury, Petersen stood down on the morning of a match after what he called interference by the selectors, forcing Thami Tsolekile to take over at the 11th hour.That marked the lowest point in the Lions’ dismal season and Cook is keen to move on. “Our players did not become bad overnight. I think what happened is because we had done so well the season before, we didn’t adapt to the fact that other teams had improved and we were caught on the hop,” he said. “But we have resisted the urge to make too many changes.”Lions have held on to their players from last summer and have made two additions to their group. Devon Conway, who was named the provincial one-day cricketer of the year at CSA’s awards last week, has been added to the contracted list along with under-19 World Cup winner Kagiso Rabada, who made his first-class debut at the end of last season.They have three nationally-contracted players on their books: Petersen, Quinton de Kock and Lonwabo Tsotsobe and an experienced core which includes Cook, McKenzie and Tsolekile. McKenzie will turn 39 in the coming season but has committed himself to playing in all formats for Lions.Cook has made it clear everyone, including the new faces, will have more demanded of them this season. “We are all really motivated to do well and guys know they will get will get pressed a little harder and asked to work a little smarter,” he said.For Cook, the goal is simple. He wants the franchise to be able to add to the trophy cupboard and if he has it his way, it will be in the longest format. “Every competition is important but for me, it would be most special to win the first-class [competition] because that is the one that really tests you as a squad,” he said. “You have to play good cricket for 40 days, whereas with the limited-overs [game] you could end up third and have a good day and then make the final. The first-class is also the competition I have never won with Lions. The last time they won it here was the season before I made my professional debut.”That was 15 years ago in the 1999/2000 season, before the franchise system had formed. Back then, all Cook wanted to do was play for what was then Gauteng and eventually for South Africa. A decade and a half later, it is still all he wants. “I have never given up on playing for South Africa. That’s my driving force.”Cook is a regular among the top ten run-scorers in the first-class competition but has struggled for higher honours largely because of where he bats – in the top two. The presence of Graeme Smith in the Test team made it difficult for Cook to get a look-in but with Smith retired, a vacancy in the national team and a platform from which to audition for it, Cook still believes anything is possible, for both him and his Lions.

James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, will ask for an explanation from Michael Clarke about why he continued to plan for a grade-match appearance despite advice to the contrary from the national selectors

Daniel Brettig25-Nov-20141:47

Clarke and selectors butt heads

Michael Clarke is expected to be ruled out of the Gabba Test but may have to repair his relations with Cricket Australia and the national selectors•Getty ImagesMichael Clarke is likely to lose his fight to play in the first Test against India but faces a far bigger and more significant struggle to regain the trust of Cricket Australia and its selectors following the events of the past week, which have seen the captain and the board at odds over his fitness.Clarke’s single-minded quest to play in the first Test of the summer has left a trail of equal parts confused and furious CA officials, coaches and selectors in its wake, while the contrivances of the grade game he had chosen to prove his availability are now under investigation. It remains to be seen whether the selectors, including the chairman Rod Marsh and the coach Darren Lehmann, can still work with him.An announcement ruling Clarke out of the Gabba was expected on Tuesday, but was put to one side by events at the SCG, where Phillip Hughes was felled by a bouncer and taken to hospital for emergency surgery. Clarke drove to St Vincent’s Hospital to be at Hughes’ side, but only after being asked to explain why he had defied the selectors over how he would prove his fitness for Brisbane.James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, will ask for a “please explain” from Clarke about why he continued to plan for a grade appearance with Western Suburbs this Saturday despite advice to the contrary from the national selectors.”I will speak to Michael and others who have been involved in the process to make sure I understand where these things have gone awry,” Sutherland told .”It’s not really appropriate for me to go into any more detail. All I can say is I am concerned that there are some mixed messages coming out of Cricket Australia in the last 24 hours or so and I want to understand why things have fallen off the rails a bit there.”ESPNcricinfo understands that Clarke had been informed as early as Wednesday last week of the selectors’ desire to have him play the two-day match against the Indians at Adelaide Oval from Friday. Yet Western Suburbs still went into the club fixture intent on making sure Clarke could bat in Sydney on the second Saturday.The efforts of the club’s captain Jeff Cook to ensure this eventuality took an extreme form, declaring at 0 for 17 and effectively surrendering the first innings to Paramatta. That day’s events are to be investigated by Cricket New South Wales at the conclusion of the round.After the weekend’s events, Clarke was to be named by the selectors in the squad for the Gabba on the condition that he proved his fitness by playing in Adelaide. But Clarke still hung on to the view that he should be allowed to test his hamstring out via the Sydney grade game.So when the chairman of selectors Rod Marsh announced the team and stated that the captain needed to play the two-day game, Clarke was at the SCG preparing on a schedule that would have him ready to appear for Western Suburbs on Saturday. He then said as much later that afternoon at a promotional appearance in Sydney, directly contradicting the words of Marsh.On Tuesday morning, Clarke did so again, saying he still expected to be fit for Brisbane. “I really hope I’m fit and I’m there to captain Australia,” Clarke said on Nine’s . “If I’m not, then I think Brad Haddin the vice-captain should definitely takeover the captaincy.Clarke went on to say that he had no plans to retire in the next 12 months. “My goal is to continue to play for Australia for a lot longer; I love both forms of the game. I want to continue to play both forms of the game.”Once you get past the age of 30, I think naturally there’s always talk about who’s going to be next, how long you play for. I probably experienced the other side of that as vice-captain. People should be looking and thinking about who is going to take that role once I’m either dropped or not selected, or I retire.”Experienced players, coaches and officials around the country have not seen anything quite like the events of the past week.

West Indies’ entire second innings lasted less than a session after tea on the third day in Hamilton, leaving New Zealand a target of 122

The Report by Abhishek Purohit20-Dec-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsTrent Boult took the first three West Indies wickets•Getty ImagesWest Indies had lost 16 wickets on the third day in Wellington to lose by an innings. If one thought their standards couldn’t plummet any further, one was to be proved wrong on the third day in Hamilton. In far friendlier conditions for batting than Basin Reserve, their entire second innings lasted less than a session. It began after tea, and ended so swiftly that New Zealand had time left to face a couple of overs in their second small chase of the series.It was supposed to be a test by spin for New Zealand, and Sunil Narine did as well he could, bowling 42.3 overs, 36 of them on the trot, to take 6 for 91. Ross Taylor batted through that examination to make his third hundred of the series and cut New Zealand’s first-innings deficit to 18. Both feats, outstanding as they were, were consigned to the sidelines by the depressingly familiar drama that West Indies served up after tea.Granted New Zealand’s four-man pace attack, three of them left-armers, were relentless with their tight lines and fuller lengths. Granted there was a bit of cloud cover that afforded some swing. Granted New Zealand came back from their sloppy catching in the first innings with some outstanding grabs. But the pitch was still the same slow one on which the sides had scored 367 and 349.After such scores, it was effectively a second-innings shootout. West Indies shot themselves in the foot instead. It was the same weakness again, an inability to tackle the inswing the left-armers were generating.Their left-handers kept poking at deliveries leaving them, even Shivnarine Chanderpaul falling prey to the malaise, and New Zealand kept snapping up sharp catches in the slip cordon, the highlight being Kane Williamson’s one-handed blinder at gully to send back Chanderpaul for 20 off Neil Wagner. The right-handers drove loosely at inswingers, they prodded at ones going straight across them, they even managed to get strangled down the leg side.The longest anyone lasted was Marlon Samuels, who made 8 off 38 deliveries. The most runs anyone made was captain Darren Sammy, who struck six fours in a hopelessly frenetic 24 off 17 to nudge West Indies into three figures.Like in Wellington, Trent Boult did most of the damage, removing the top three within nine overs on his way to 4 for 23. Wagner and Corey Anderson, a terrific second pair of seamers, kept up the pressure to prise out three more, and Boult returned to trap first-innings centurion Denesh Ramdin in front.Having watched the left-armers take the first seven wickets, Tim Southee helped himself to the final three in one over with his outswingers, also reaching 100 Test victims in the process. West Indies had been blown away for 103 in 31.5 overs, 12 leg-byes helping them scrape past 100.Before tea, Taylor finished with 28 more than 11 West Indies batsmen and the leg-byes put together to pilot New Zealand past 300. Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson gave it away in the morning, aggression causing their downfall, while Taylor ticked along solidly and calmly, at his own pace, never in doubt.West Indies weren’t able to exert pressure to the extent they had on the second evening, when their specialist spinners Narine and Veerasammy Permaul bowled in tandem. Instead, Darren Sammy gave himself a spell of nine overs at the start, bowling alongside Narine as West Indies worked with the old ball throughout the session. Whatever pressure Narine exerted wasn’t maintained for long enough.Taylor carried on from the second evening, unruffled by the odd delivery misbehaving or by what was happening at the other end. Even as Narine jagged the odd straighter one past the bat, Taylor handled the offbreaks superbly, playing late and softly. West Indies took the second new ball in the 99th over, immediately after lunch, and the change earned them the wickets of BJ Watling and Taylor, who departed after taking 20 runs off Sammy in the 105th over.Wagner and Southee cut the deficit further but the tail could not survive too long against Narine, and he spun out the last three to go to 18 wickets from three Tests against New Zealand. The one over he bowled in the evening signalled that the target of 122 wouldn’t be chased down easily.West Indies had stopped New Zealand short of chasing 112 in Dunedin, but that was on the final day with assistance from rain. Narine is now their only hope, however slender, with two days left. For if you can’t bat, you can at least hope.

Kylian Mbappe is undoubtedly one of the world’s biggest football players and, because of that, speculation linking him with moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs will always be rife. 

Now, another big rumour has emerged in regards to the former Monaco youngster.

PSG would certainly not want to lose one of their prized assets, but his relationship with the current manager – Thomas Tuchel – is reportedly not great, with AS claiming that the German still places Neymar at the forefront of his plans now the Brazilian is backfiring on all cylinders for the Ligue 1 super-club. Indeed, this comes amid suggestions from the same outlet last week that the Spanish giants were eager to bring the World Cup winner to the club.

Mbappe was left on the sidelines for PSG’s Champions League encounter against Club Brugge last week, but came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick in emphatic style.

“I wanted to demonstrate how difficult it is to do without me,” he said after the match (via AS), which suggests he was fairly unhappy with the selection policy.

Los Blancos are arguably the biggest club on the planet and propel elite talent further than they have gone before – take Cristiano Ronaldo for instance: a rising star with Manchester United, he joined Madrid in 2009 for £80m and transformed into one of the best players in history.

Given his quality in front of goal having scored 88 career goals already (per WhoScored), Mbappe could help replace some of the goals Ronaldo used to deliver, with Marca recently noting how the likes of Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic have failed to replace him.

The 20-year-old has already won the World Cup with his country at such a young age, but in terms of club football, history has shown that players who stay at PSG and walk Ligue 1 each season – while continually falling short in the Champions League – do not go on and become Ballon d’Or winners.

Indeed, to truly hit the top level, perhaps replacing a legend such as Ronaldo at one of the biggest clubs in the world is the way to get him there. After all, the report itself claims Mbappe’s aim is to win the top individual award in the game, with that looking more likely in the Spanish capital over the years.

Madrid fans, do you think you’ll land Mbappe? Comment below!

A five-member ICC sub-committee will look into relaxing certain conditions of the five-year ban imposed on Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir after the spot-fixing scandal of 2010

Umar Farooq01-Jul-2013A five-member ICC sub-committee, which was set up after the 2013 annual conference to review the anti-corruption code, will also look into relaxing certain conditions of the five-year ban imposed on Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir after the spot-fixing scandal of 2010. While the most stringent stipulations of the ban will still remain, the PCB has requested the ICC to consider a few concessions, especially with regard to Amir using the board’s facilities for training.A PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo: “The ICC, during the annual conference week, constituted a five-member committee that will review and recommend amendments to the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, and on recommendation from the PCB, will also provide its suggestions to the ICC board on the ban related to Mohammad Amir.” The ICC was unwilling to the reveal who would comprise the sub-committee.Regardless of the recommendation from the committee, Amir will not be able to play any kind of club, domestic, or international cricket and will not train with the national team. The only significant allowance that could be made is that he regain access to the training facilities offered by the PCB.ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB made the request to the ICC only because Amir had complied with conditions of the ban: not committing any further breach of the anti-corruption code and undergoing the ICC’s educational and rehabilitation programme. Amir will be available for national selection from September 3, 2015, and the PCB sought the relaxation of some terms so that he could be ready to play as soon as his ban ends, rather than spend more months in training.Amir had not been aware of the PCB’s request but seemed content with anything that would help him return to cricket. He hasn’t been doing full-fledged training but has kept himself in good shape. By the time he completes his ban he will be 23. “I will come hard despite the five-year in-activeness,” Amir had told ESPNcricinfo last year. “I want to come back with my head held high, with a new spirit and as a role model.”Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain who was banned for ten years by the ICC on charges of spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test in 2010, had made a similar request in a personal capacity two days before the ICC’s annual conference. His case, however, was not accepted as it was believed that Butt had not fully complied with the ICC’s conditions.Butt had recently taken the first step in his rehabilitation by publicly admitting to and apologising for his part in the spot-fixing scandal. He also indicated his willingness to participate in the PCB and ICC’s rehabilitation programmes. Five out of Butt’s ten-year ban from any cricketing activities were to be a suspended sentence on condition that he would commit no further breach of the anti-corruption code and participate in a PCB-controlled anti-corruption education programme.Of the three players banned by the ICC before the criminal trial began in London – fast bowler Mohammad Asif being the third – only Amir had pleaded guilty to the charges at the Southwark Crown Court. Both Butt and Asif had pleaded not guilty and appealed their bans at the Court of Arbitration in Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Tony Hill has stepped down from the ICC elite panel of umpires to take up the role of New Zealand Cricket umpire coach

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2014Tony Hill has stepped down from the ICC elite panel of umpires to take up the role of New Zealand Cricket umpire coach. He will begin his new role in March this year.Hill, 62, ends a 15-year international umpiring career, having officiated in 40 Tests, 96 ODIs and 17 Twenty20 internationals. He was promoted to the elite panel in 2009 after serving on the international panel for 11 years.Hill came into umpiring without any background in first-class cricket and made his international debut with an ODI between New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Napier in March 1998. He stood in the World Cups in 2007 and 2011, the Champions Trophies in 2009 and 2013, and the World Twenty20s in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. His final appointment was as third umpire in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.Hill’s new position will focus mainly around managing recruitment and retention processes for amateur umpires, talent identification of potential professional umpires and the coaching of New Zealand’s elite umpires.Hill said he would treasure his time as an umpire. “It has been so special officiating internationally among great players alongside the finest umpires in the world,” Hill said. “What a privilege! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the ICC and feel privileged to have been part of the system at a time when umpiring transformed to what it is today.”I would like to offer my special thanks and appreciation to my family, colleagues in the playing control team and all those who I have worked with for supporting me throughout my time with the ICC.”This wonderful opportunity as NZC umpire coach enables me to continue to be part of this marvellous match-official community and work with the aspiring umpires throughout New Zealand. What a challenge and one I look forward to.”Vince van der Bijl, the ICC umpires and referees manager, said: “Tony has given sterling service to the game over many years and his humour, commitment and selfless approach will be sorely missed. He loves cricket and officiating, so we are delighted that in his new role he will continue to serve the game and help New Zealand continue to produce top-level umpires into the future.”Many thanks Tony for playing such an important role in the period of transformation within the match-official community and for your contribution to each of us.”Rodger McHarg, the NZC national umpiring manager, said Hill’s involvement would be helpful in developing upcoming umpires in New Zealand. “Tony’s been a highly respected umpire for a number of years and we’re incredibly pleased to secure the services of someone with his knowledge and expertise,” McHarg said. “The demand for quality umpires in our game is ever increasing and we’re dedicated to providing top-level officiating at all levels of the game. We believe Tony will be instrumental in helping us to continue to raise that bar.”He’s been a great example of what can be achieved on the international stage and with his involvement we’re confident that we can continue to produce world-class umpires.”