Local cricket officials, Anthony Fubler and Richard Austin, are the newest members of the ICC 'A' and 'B' Panels of umpires, Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) president Wali Manders has confirmed.

"Richard has been appointed to the 'A' Panel while Anthony has been appointed to the 'B' Panel," Manders told The Royal Gazette.

Austin is a two-time Umpire of the Year Award recipient while former Willow Cuts wicketkeeper/batsman Fubler is also considered one of the Island's leading umpires.

Manders said he now hoped the pair's promotion would inspire others to join his association's ranks that have been depleted by the retirements of stalwarts such as Randy Butler, Wilbur Pitcher and Steven West.

"The Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association is very proud of Richard and Anthony and hopefully their progress will encourage new umpires to join," he commented.

Last June, Austin and Fubler were among a trio of local umpires who successfully completed West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) oral and practical exams.

"The BCUA are continuing to work in the area of training potential umpires to improve the standard of cricket throughout the community," added Manders who, along with colleagues George Francis and Butler, stood down from the ICC 'A' Panel earlier this year.

BCUA presently have several members officiating at the international level.

Roger Dill currently serves on the ICC's Americas Region Elite and Associate and Affiliate International Panels while BCUA vice-president, Steven Douglas, serves on the ICC Americas Region Elite Panel.

Another local umpire, Lester Harnett, currently serves on the ICC 'B' Panel of umpires.

Earlier this week The Royal Gazette revealed that Bermuda will host the 24th bienniel West Indies Cricket Umpires Association Convention from June 1 to June 5 at Grotto Bay Hotel.

Next month's event, the first to be held on Bermuda's shores since 1993, will encompass various lectures, reviewal of the laws of the game, meetings to address any oustanding business in the region as well as the presentation of certificates to those who successfully completed last year's written and oral exams during the President's Banquet.

The WICUA are divided into four groups with Area One comprising of Bermuda, Jamaica, Canada, USA and Cayman Island.

Windward Islands make up Area Two, Leeward Island Area Three while Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago make up Area Four.