GUYANA’S international umpire Nigel Duguid has been chosen by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as one of its match officials for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup scheduled to get underway in New Zealand from January 18.
It marks the second consecutive World Cup appearance for Duguid who also stood in the 2016 tournament in Bangladesh.

Duguid joins Barbadian Gregory Brathwaite as the other regional umpire on the international panel which includes Robert Bailey, Anil Chaudhary, Shaun George, Shaun Haig, Mark Hawthorne, David Odhiambo, Buddhi Pradhan Ranmore Martinesz, C.K. Nandan, Ian Ramage, Ahsan Raza, Shozab Raza, Tim Robinson, Langton Rusere and Paul Wilson.
The former Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) left-arm spinner who gave up playing for an umpiring career in 2010, was appointed to the ICC TV Umpires panel the following year and has been officiating in regional matches ever since.

Duguid officiated in his first T20 International, featuring West Indies and Ireland on February 21, 2014 and has done five matches to date. He also stood in his first One Day International (ODI) on March 5, 2017 when West Indies opposed England and has done three more games since. He is also among the umpires in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Duguid also had a stint in the English cricket season in 2012 after doing duties in the Bangladesh ‘A’ team tour of the Caribbean the previous year.
Apart from them, David Odhiambo, Buddhi Pradhan and Ian Ramage from the ICC Development Panel will also be officiating in the tournament.
Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, and Devdas Govindjee and David Jukes of the International Panel of ICC Match Referees, will also be officiating in the tournament.

Shaun George and Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for the match between defending champions West Indies and hosts New Zealand on the opening day at the Bay Oval in Tauranga, while Robert Bailey will be the TV umpire and Timothy Robinson the fourth umpire. David Jukes has been appointed as the match referee for this match.
Umpire and match referee appointments for the knockout stages will be announced after the teams have been confirmed.

The West Indies will be looking to defend their title and emulate Pakistan, who won consecutive titles in 2004 and 2006. Australia and India have each won the title three times while England and South Africa are the other teams to have won the tournament, which replicates a major tournament experience in terms of organisation and playing facilities.

The other teams participating in the 16-team tournament are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The teams have been divided in groups of four. The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super League while the remaining eight teams will figure in the Plate Championship.

The preliminary round matches will be followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, plus the play-offs.