No place for umpire Harper in World Twenty20

Daryl Harper will have no role during the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, even though the Australian is one of world cricket’s elite umpires. The ICC, cricket’s global governing body, said the experienced Harper had been omitted after an expert panel concluded his “general performance” did not merit selection for the event.

However, in a statement issued from their Dubai headquarters on Tuesday, the ICC “categorically stated” Harper had not been dropped because of his controversial role during the fourth Test between South Africa and England in Johannesburg in January.

Harper stunned England by deciding to give South Africa captain Graeme Smith not out caught behind on review in an innings where the opening batsman went on to make a century that led the Proteas to a series-levelling victory.

The subsequent controversy saw Harper and broadcasters accuse one another of making mistakes in ensuring the technology needed to operate the decision review system was working properly.

Umpires for World Twenty20

Billy Bowden (NZL), Aleem Dar (PAK), Steve Davis (AUS), Billy Doctrove (WIS), Ian Gould (ENG), Tony Hill (NZL), Rudi Koertzen (RSA), Asoka de Silva (SRI), Simon Taufel (AUS), Asad Rauf (PAK), Marais Erasmus (RSA), Shavir Tarapore (IND) and Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referees for World Twenty20:

Ranjan Madugalle (SRI), Alan Hurst (AUS) and Jeff Crowe (NZL)

LONDON, AFP