CHRISTCHURCH (Reuters)
The International Cricket Council's selection process for two umpiring panels to administer Tests and one-day internationals from April 1 is well on schedule, the organisation's chief executive Malcolm Speed has said in Christchurch.

Speed said the first panel of eight – the elite umpires in world cricket – was close to being finalised.

The elite panel is being selected using reports from international captains and referees through a questionnaire.

The panel will oversee the majority of Tests around the world, while a second-tier of 20 umpires would officiate in one-day internationals and fill in where necessary for Tests.

The chosen umpires will attend a four-day conference in Cape Town in early April.

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