Previous World Cup winners David Boon, Kumar Dharmasena and Paul Reiffel have been appointed by the International Cricket Council to officiate during the league phase of the game's flagship tournament this year. The trio, among the 16 umpires and six referees whose names were finalised for the 48-match tournament on Friday, will be on duty for the opening match between hosts England and South Africa at The Oval. Boon, who was part of the Allan Border-led Australian squad that won the 1987 tournament, will be the match referee. Dharmasena, who played a vital role for Arjuna Ranatunga's Sri Lanka in 1996, will be one of the two on-field umpires. Reiffel, whose Australian side under Steve Waugh began a three World Cup-winning run in 1999, will be the third umpire. Bruce Oxenford will be the other on-field umpire and Joel Wilson the fourth official for the match. Madugalle, the most experienced match referee, will be officiating in his sixth World Cup, while it will be the fourth World Cup for Chris Broad and Jeff Crowe. Umpire Aleem Dar will be officiating in his fifth World Cup, and it will be the fourth and last for Ian Gould, who has announced his retirement after the tournament. Gould, 61, who was England’s wicketkeeper in the 1983 World Cup, has officiated in 74 Tests, 135 one-day internationals and 37 Twenty20 internationals so far. The appointments for the semi-finals will be announced at the end of the league stage and those for the final will be finalised after the semi-finals.
