Sports
Bucknor to umpire fifth straight World Cup final
Bridgetown (Barbados) | April 27, 2007 4:15:06 PM IST
West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor will officiate in his fifth successive cricket World Cup final, between Australia and Sri Lanka, along with Aleem Dar of Pakistan here Saturday. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also announced that former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe would be the match referee at the Kensington Oval. The third umpire will be Rudi Koertzen of South Africa and the reserve umpire will be New Zealander Brent Bowden. "It is a dream come true. I was happy knowing I was umpiring in a cricket World Cup in the Caribbean and now being asked to stand in the final again makes it even more special," said Bucknor. Bucknor, 60, had earlier stood in the title deciding match of the 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003 tournaments. The only officials who come close to that mark are Harold "Dickie" Bird (1975, 1979 and 1983) and David Shepherd (1996, 1999 and 2003), who both stood in three finals. A World Cup final will be a new experience for Dar, who echoed Bucknor's excitement. "It is a dream come true for me too. Everyone can have their dreams and I am just very glad that I have been selected for this match, which should be a very good one between the two top teams," he said. "I have always worked well together with Steve. He is a great umpire and we have a good understanding, and so that should be a great help to me on Saturday." The officials have been sponsored by Mumbai-headquartered real estate and construction giant HDIL. Sri Lanka's Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC's head match referee and who filled the role taken on by Crowe this weekend in the previous two finals, was not considered for the position given Sri Lanka's qualification for the final this time around. ICC has policy of appointing 'neutral' officials. The match is the last of the ninth World Cup, with Australia seeking an unprecedented third successive title following title wins in 1999 and 2003. Sri Lanka was the last team to win the title before Australia, in 1996, beating the Aussies in the final. Australia also won the title in 1987. (IANS)
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