Roger Dill has created history by becoming the first and only regional cricket umpire appointed to the International Cricket Council?s (ICC) newly-established Associate & Affiliates Umpires Panel.

The mild-mannered Bermudian?s invitation to serve on the ten-man unit from April 1, 2005, to March 31, 2006, followed his outstanding officiating ? including standing in the final ? in the World Cup Qualifying Series Division Two event in Malaysia in February.

?As a member of the Associate & Affiliates Umpires Panel you will be appointed by ICC to Intercontinental Cup matches and be eligible for selection for the ICC Trophy and ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2006,? indicated ICC Umpires and Referees Manager Chris Kelly in recent correspondence to Dill via the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB).

The 47-year-old, whose international career had been limited to Americas tournaments prior to his Malaysia assignment, could possibly even progress as far as the ICC Champions Trophy.

?I?m very pleased to be chosen. It?s an exciting prospect and I?m sure the experience will be invaluable. It?s quite a privilege and I just want to go as far as I can,? said Dill.

?It was mentioned in the workshop and training seminar (in Malaysia) that Associate umpires could be doing matches even at the ICC Champions Trophy. To reach that level would be a quite a good achievement.?

The panel will be reviewed on an annual basis and the ICC expect ?there will be plenty of competition for places?. Kelly disclosed that another regional umpire, Courtney Young of the Cayman Islands ?just missed out?. Six of the panel?s members will officiate in the ICC Trophy in Ireland in July where they will be joined by five members of the International Panel.

Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) official Neil Speight hailed the news as a significant boost for the Island?s cricketing stature and inspiration for others seeking to emulate Dill?s accomplishment.

?We?re very pleased that Roger has been selected to this elite panel of ten umpires. It?s great kudos for him and also for Bermuda. As everyone will recognise, the development of the game isn?t just about the players but also the officials, scorers and other people who make cricket successful.

?I think it?s an outstanding beacon of opportunity for young, upcoming umpires. They should realise there is a great future in the game and that there are global opportunities for them to pursue that career.?

Dill was selected for the Malaysia tournament after a sterling performance in last summer?s Americas Regional Championship here. In Malaysia, eight teams ? Cayman Islands, Fiji, Italy, Kuwait, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Qatar and Zambia ? battled for the 12th and final spot in the ICC Trophy.

A former Western Stars and BAA off-spinner, Dill umpired in one preliminary fixture (Zambia versus Fiji) and the final in which Papua New Guinea beat Fiji. Umpires were observed during each match by Kelly and Test umpire Darrell Hair of Australia.

?I guess they looked at certain aspects of what we did. I was very satisfied with how I umpired but I?m not sure what gave me the edge because I thought all the other umpires were quite impressive too,? said the Fire Service sergeant, acknowledging he felt it was a vote of confidence to be asked to officiate the final.

Quick to thank his domestic colleagues for their support, Dill termed his success ?good for Bermuda cricket and umpires? and he hopes it will motivate others.

?I hope it will encourage others aspiring to be umpires, knowing they can go beyond local umpiring and that they could have opportunities at a higher level overseas.

?The future could be wide open. The ICC really want to involve Associate members.?