Former Otago cricketer Shaun Haig is poised to make his international umpiring debut this summer.
The 34-year-old has been named on New Zealand Cricket's 2016-17 international umpires panel alongside fellow former first-class player Chris Brown and official Wayne Knights.
The promotion represents a meteoric rise for Haig, who only took up umpiring four years ago when a back injury curtailed his playing career.
"It is slightly unexpected but I'm happy and very, very excited about it,'' Haig said.
Haig made his domestic debut last season and has only officiated in two four-dayers, two one-dayers, and a twenty20 match.
"It looks like they've shown some confidence in me which I'm really grateful for. Now I guess I've just got to make sure I put in the work and take the opportunity by doing a good job.''
A dashing right-hander, Haig played 34 first-class games for Otago as well as 24 one-dayers and one T20 match.
He is a teacher at Kavanagh College and said the school was very supportive of his umpire career.
Brown (43), who was born in Rarotonga, played 15 first-class matches for Auckland, four for the New Zealand Academy and also played international cricket for the Cook Islands.
Knights (45) started umpiring club cricket in the late 1990s and has completed five seasons on the NZC national umpire panel.
He has also served on the national reserve panel in the past.
"It's a massive opportunity for the guys and they deserve it based on their umpiring performances over recent seasons,'' NZC match officials manager Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri said.
"We're delighted to see more former players coming through the umpiring system and hope it continues to be seen as an attractive pathway.''
NZC also confirmed the other six umpires on the national panel, who will control men's domestic matches and White Ferns fixtures.
The only change to the list is the inclusion of Haig in place of veteran umpire Barry Frost, who retired at the end of last season.
New Zealand's leading umpire, Chris Gaffaney, who also played cricket for Otago, has been retained by the ICC elite umpires panel for a second year.
Umpires
International Panel
Chris Brown (Auckland), Wayne Knights (Auckland), Shaun Haig (Otago).
National Umpires Panel
Brent Bowden (Auckland), Chris Brown (Auckland), Tony Gillies (Auckland), Shaun Haig (Otago), Phil Jones (Auckland), Wayne Knights (Auckland), Ash Mehrotra (Northern Districts), Tim Parlane (Canterbury), Derek Walker (Otago)
