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Umpires' sake
EVEN AS the leading lights of Indian cricket are battling with the South Africans on the field, the seven-member BCCI umpires panel is working overtime to put things in proper perspective. And, D.S. Chalapathi, vice-president of Hyderabad Cricket Association and sole representative from the South zone on the umpires panel from the city, says that the panel, which primarily handles the postings for the three categories of umpires — Elite, All India and Ranji Trophy, will discuss some important issues for the betterment of the gentlemen who do a demanding job on the field. "It is the endeavour of the BCCI panel to ensure that the umpires are also looked after in the best possible manner in the words of C.K. Khanna, chairman of the panel," says Chalapathi.
Gautam Das Gupta, convenor, is trying his best to give the desired professional touch to the whole task on hand. "Right now, only A.V. Jayaprakash and Hariharan are on the Elite Panel with I. Sivaram eligible to stand as third umpire," says Chalapathi. "A decision was also taken recently that no administrator or a coach can become an umpire anymore," he said.
A meeting of the BCCI umpires panel in the second week of December is most likely to come up with some welcome measures for the umpires in general. "We are awaiting feedback from different quarters over the next four weeks when the Ranji Trophy matches will be played all over the country. The panel is clearly determined to ensure that all postings are done without any scope for bias and purely on merit of the performances of the umpire in question," says the H.C.A. vice-president.
He also stresses that the panel will invite suggestions from the umpires.
Chalapathi is the third Hyderabadi to be on the panel with former secretary of HCA P.R. Man Singh and current BCCI vice-president M. Ranga Reddy having already worked on it. "The panel has decided in principle to involve all the former Test and first-class cricketers to come up with any measures which are good for the umpires.
At my level, I always look to Shivlal Yadav (secretary of H.C.A.) and former Test star Arshad Ayub and Ranji star M.V. Sridhar to find out ways to improve the quality of umpiring at the State-level itself," he explains.
On an average H.C.A. needs at least 80 umpires (even if there were to be one umpire in a match) for the 80-odd matches played every week during the peak of the domestic league and right now it has only 12 qualified gentlemen doing the job.
"Yes. We are aware and H.C.A. will soon conduct the umpires examination regularly besides conducting classes by senior members like Sivaram, Ramaswamy and Rajan to improve the standard of umpiring in Hyderabad," he remarked.
The panel also decided to promote only those who officiate in local matches. And, henceforth the host association would take care of accommodation part of the umpires posted for the Ranji matches from this season.
So, now there are sincere efforts by the BCCI to make the umpires feel more comfortable in discharging their duties.
V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
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