BCCI to streamline umpires panel

The Indian cricket board plans to streamline its panel of umpires before the domestic season begins in September 2004. According to a spokesperson for the board, the downsizing is to raise the quality and the consistency of domestic umpires, and to have better Indian umpires at the international level.

At present, there is a pool of 122 domestic umpires who officiate in first-class as well as junior-level matches. The elite panel consists of 40 of the best, a figure that the BCCI is attempting to cut down to 15.

Ratnakar Shetty, the joint secretary of the BCCI, said that the board hoped to improve umpiring standards with the downsizing, as the present number of 40 umpires in the elite panel was 'unmanageable'. Recently, the board conducted medical tests for umpires all over India, where their hearing, sight and general health were assessed. These tests were the first part of a two-stage examination. What follows is the 'viva voce' exam, which will determine umpires' knowledge of the game, in theory and in practice, and will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from May 29-31.

Arani Jayaprakash, one of three Indian umpires on the ICC's international panel, was in favour of the streamlining, and said that it would raise consistency levels. "See, the consistency level isn't very high because we have too many umpires. Because if you have 150 umpires, definitely everybody can't be the same."

It's a situation that can be resolved. Jayaprakash believes that the panel could keep umpires on top of their game, and would raise consistency levels as umpires strived to remain in the elite list. But he maintained that while more training programs and exposure would help umpires, the improvement would also have an effect on the way players perceived officials.

"We have to have a training program for umpires, some classes, some seminars. All this has to come. Only then will it help," Jayaprakash said. "But as far as all the umpires are concerned, they should be consistent on certain things. The players also see the consistency level of the umpires, so they look forward to a good umpire."

Incidentally, there are no clear penalties for under-performing domestic umpires, though an umpiring committee exists. The committee takes the captains' and match referee's comments into account before hauling up the umpire and, in rare instances, even reduces the number of matches the umpire officiates in.