By RON FANFAIR
Canadian cricket umpire Ashook Brijcoomar is optimistic that he will be named on the new International Cricket Council (ICC) Associates and Affiliates panel that will be announced shortly.
Brijcoomar was one of 20 umpires who officiated in the just concluded ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Division Two tournament in Malaysia and participated in a two-day seminar with Australia's Darrell Hair and ICC Umpires and Referees Manager Chris Kelly.
"We were assessed on both on-field and classroom performances," Brijcoomar said on his return home. "The sessions were intense and they covered all aspects of the game. At the end of the day, I think we were all prepared for the challenge."
Brijcoomar has kept his umpiring skills sharp on a yearly basis by officiating in Guyana and other parts of the world.
"Cricket is played in Toronto for about five months a year, so you have to seek opportunities elsewhere if you want to be on top of your game and be ready for such an opportunity like the one that has now presented itself with the ICC."
With business interests in Guyana, Brijcoomar often spends a few months each year in the South American country umpiring in club matches. He's currently in Argentina officiating in a Masters limited-overs series.
Meanwhile, Jamaica won the Carib Beer regional title and qualified to host this year's Carib Beer Challenge five-day cricket championship after crushing defending champions Barbados by 245 runs in the penultimate game of the Caribbean four-day tournament in St. Catherine, Jamaica last Monday.
Final scores were Jamaica 522-9 declared (Wavell Hinds 153, Dave Bernard 81, Marlon Samuels 74) and 159-8 declared; Barbados 214 (Ryan Hinds 84…Odean Brown 5-70) and 222.
Jamaica's opponent in the final will be determined after the final series of matches in the Carib Beer Trophy series, starting tomorrow.