CAB UPSET OVER HIGHERRANKED UMPIRES BEING OVERLOOKED

MUMBAI:THE joint honorary secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal, Avishek Dalmiya, has shot off a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s assistant general manager, cricket operations, KVP Rao, protesting that the ranking system of the umpires was overlooked in the allotment of first-class matches in December.

According to Dalmiya, the umpires ranked between 5 to 32 were not considered for posting to Ranji Trophy games, Group C, to be played in December, while umpires ranked between 33 to 35 were considered for posting.

Dalmiya has raised the issue on the behalf of five umpires from his association who have missed out despite being ranked higher than some of those who have been allotted.

“The ranking of umpires for the season has been done by the BCCI and as per that, the highest ranking umpires are given the priority when the allotments are done.

“However, despite the above policy in place, yesterday, when allotments were made, it was observed that while 1 to 4 ranked umpires were given posting to Ranji Trophy games, 5 to 32 ranked umpires (except no 19) were not considered for posting in Ranji Trophy matches to be played in December,” said Dalmiya in his letter.

The allotments for matches of other Board tournaments to be played in December were also made on Sunday.

Calling it as disheartening and discouraging for the umpires who are in the rank of 5 to 32 to miss out, CAB’S jt hon secretary wants the adjustments to be made and the rationale behind the ranking system retained.

“As many as five umpires from Bengal fall in this category and we as an Association feel that umpires from the state should not be deprived of getting an opportunity if they actually deserve as per the policy set by the Board,” he pointed out.

According to a BCCI insider, this could have happened because of the computerised system being followed by the agency hired by the BCCI for posting of umpires.