CRICKET NEWS - Knysna-based cricket umpire Kerrin Klaaste is making her final preparations for the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup that is set to be held in two days, on 14 January.
Klaaste (24) wrote the national exam last month. It marked a big step in her career, as passing it would mean that she would be eligible and qualified to umpire international cricket matches under the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It also meant that she would be able to umpire at the upcoming world cup. "I was absolutely blown away by being selected to umpire at the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup as it's a first of its kind," she told George Herald's sister publication, KnysnaPlett Herald.
With the tournament now imminent, Klaaste readied herself for the big one by umpiring in a few of the official ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup warm-up games that were played on Monday 9 January and Wednesday 11 January. These will definitely go a long way in helping settle her nerves before she takes to the field for the most monumental step in her umpiring career so far.
The ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup takes place from 14 to 29 January, and will be played between venues in Benoni and Potchefstroom.
Next month's world cup
All the preparation has left Klaaste chomping at the bit to take to the field for the first-ever ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup. And it will be on home soil too. "Excited would be an understatement! I've only recently been introduced to televised games, but I can assure you that I'm extremely keen on umpiring at that level again," Klaaste said shortly after passing her national exam last month.
"The pressure is thrilling. It's not often that a world cup takes places in your home country, but it's even rarer that one gets the opportunity to officiate at one, and I feel that I am prepared for the opportunity."
Earlier world cup preparation
In October Klaaste made the biggest step in her career up to that point when she was added to the ICC's International Panel of Development Umpires. Upon receiving the news, she was also informed of the chance to umpire in the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup, but that depended on passing her national examination.
After hearing about this possibility, Klaaste devoted her time to preparing for the competition. This included umpiring the televised 2022 Varsity Cup (a first for her in many ways), and officiating in a provincial three-day match as a third umpire - another first experience for her. And of course, the biggest step, writing and passing the Cricket South Africa Umpire National Certificate examination in December.
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