New Zealand umpire appointed to Champions League

New Zealand umpire Gary Baxter will stand in six games during the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India during December.

Baxter will be based in Bangalore with fellow official, Sri Lankan Asoka De Silva. The pair will be controlling matches in the competition’s Group B which includes Western Australia, the Dolphins, the Rajasthan Rebels and the Sialkot Stallions.

Baxter, a member of New Zealand’s international umpiring panel, said he’s excited about the prospect of umpiring at a 40,000 capacity ground in the high-profile tournament.

“This is a great opportunity – there will be big crowds and a fantastic atmosphere,” he said. “It’s also good for New Zealand umpires to get this sort of experience and exposure at the top levels of the game.”

Baxter has been umpiring at first-class level for 10 years. His international experience includes 19 One Day Internationals, as well as the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006. Baxter has stood in 57 first-class games including the State Championship final in 2006.