Covid ‘homecoming’ for elite umpires
appeal against Miandad.
NEUTRAL UMPIRES
The seeds for neutral umpires though were sowed in Pakistan, after their win in the first Test of the 1986 series against West Indies again led to criticism of the umpires. To end the wrangling, skipper Imran Khan invited Indian umpires Piloo Reporter and VK Ramaswamy to stand in the next two Tests.
Miandad rejects Waugh’s claim on sledging and criticism of the umpires. “You can’t take away credit from any player,” he says. Pakistan and India bore the brunt of criticism though umpiring complaints came from everywhere, says Miandad. “Credit was denied for deserving performances.” Criticism though further eroded the confidence of home umpires, especially under pressure. For the 1989 India series, Imran got two English umpires to stand. ICC took note, and started posting one third-country umpire in Tests on trial basis in 1992, expanding it two years later before making it permanent in 2002.
Miandad though still backs home umpires.
“With so much technology, there can be no hanky-panky; anyone giving a poor decision will be exposed. The official will think of his prestige… if he does two bad games, he will want to retire. If there’s any doubt, you can use the review. The standard
NEMANJA MATIC, Man United midfielder defends compatriot Djokovic for hosting charity tennis event of umpiring will also improve with more opportunities.”
In India, the selection process also hurt umpiring in those days, says former Test umpire AV Jayaprakash. “(Before 1980s) at the fag end of their careers, umpires would be gifted one of two matches by BCCI. If you haven’t been good enough for 20 years to do international matches, how can you become good at retirement time?” he asks.
Between 1995 and 2002, BCCI made around 45 officials ODI umpires, says a former Test umpire, who did not wish to be identified. “It will be good if ICC does the assessment. If left to the home boards, there will be favouritism. It used to happen… whoever came into the panel got his man. All have done one to two matches. That’s why ICC didn’t give chance to anyone except S Venkataraghavan, who was the only one in the Elite panel for years.”
GOOD EXPOSURE
Former Test umpire Suresh Shastri feels home umpires will improve with more opportunities. “The communication, body language will be better. They are more used to our conditions— that will be one of the biggest advantages.”
The timing of 36-year-old Nitin Menon’s inclusion in the Elite Panel of umpires can’t be better. India has three umpires in the second-rung International Panel—c.shamshuddin, Anil
ACROSS
Chaudhary and Virender Sharma.
Jayaprakash says Indian umpires must do their homework. “They will have to be thorough about the rules on saliva ban… There is no point in reading about the same old things. I used to go through laws on the uncommon mode of dismissals. In the 2001 Chennai Test, I gave Steve Waugh out handled the ball. The scorer is going to ask, we can’t fumble there.”
When giving out obstructing the field, for instance, the umpire must check with the fielding captain as the appeal can be withdrawn. “It happened to Shiv Sundar Das in a Test I was officiating…we asked the opposition captain.”