The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to give a consideration to the international umpire, Simon Taufel’s, suggestions on improving the standards of umpiring in India.
The absence of Indian umpires in the International Cricket Council‘s (ICC) elite panel has emerged a huge matter of concern for the BCCI.
In order to tackle the worsening condition of umpiring in India, BCCI took an initiative and inked a contract with Cricket Australia (CA) a few years back.
According to the contract, CA is due to help BCCI in developing a system that ensures regular production of good umpires in India.
As a part of BCCI’s efforts to raise the standards of umpiring in the country, Taufel was invited to attend a seminar and deliver a lecture to 105 Indian umpires, who officiate during domestic cricket in the country.
“They need to be supported by practical training, a proper assessment system, and the knowledge that the best will get to the top," Taufel said of Indian first-class umpires.
He added, "Just like players who are dropped and promoted on the basis of performance, the umpires need to be rewarded or punished.”
Taufel suggested some valuable ideas to BCCI to perk up the umpiring standards in India. The Board has finally decided to do take serious action and discuss the proposals submitted by the great umpire.
The 40-year-old umpire is regarded as one of the best across the globe. He has officiated 67 Tests and 167 One Day Internationals in his 12-year-long umpiring career.
Furthermore, he has won five consecutive ‘ICC’s Umpire of the Year’ awards from 2004 to 2008.
The meeting of the Umpires’ sub-committee of the BCCI is scheduled to be held in Mumbai, today, June 18, 2011, and along discussing the names of Indian umpires for the elite panel, the members of the committee, former Indian skipper, S Venkataragahavan, former international umpires S K Bansal and AV Jayprakash, will also ponder over Taufel’s plan.
"Taufel has by far been the best international umpire for the past 10 years. He has given some valuable suggestions on the process of improving the standard of umpiring. The pros and cons of the proposal is likely to be discussed at the Umpires' Committee meeting on Saturday," said a BCCI source.
