Karachi, Jan 24: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday ignored
its umpires on International Cricket Council (ICC) panel for the home
series against Sri Lanka.
Riazuddin and Athar Zaidi, who were promoted to the ICC ranks last
year, have not been posted for any of the three one-day internationals
and three Tests to be played between Feb 13 and March 18.
One wonders if the two will get international postings in future after
being ousted from the panel of umpires from domestic international
matches.
Instead, the PCB decided to give exposure to two former Test and three
ex-first-class cricketers who will be making their international
debuts.
Sadiq Mohammad, who represented Pakistan in 41 Tests, and Nadeem
Ghauri, who played a Test against Australia on the 1989-90 tour, have
been appointed as umpires in the one-day internationals.
Three former first-class cricketers, who will stand in one-day
matches, include Kamal Merchant, Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar.
Besides, the PCB has appointed Salim Badar who served as ICC umpire
until last year.
The most interesting part is that the PCB had sought a medical
certificate from Sadiq Mohammad after the domestic teams questioned
his hearing abilities. Sadiq was told to undergo hearing and eyesight
tests.
Nadeem made its first-class umpiring debut this season and has only
stood in a handful of matches. Similar is the background and
experience of Asad and Aleem. Kamal Merchant made his debut as umpire
last season.
The chairman of the PCB Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia said from Mangla that Sadiq
Mohammad and Kamal Merchant will stand in the first one-day
international at Karachi on Feb 13, Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar in the
second one-dayer at Gujranwala on Feb 16 and Nadeem Ghauri and Shakeel
Khan in the last match on Feb 19 at Qadhafi Stadium.
He added that the Tests will be supervized by Mian Aslam (Rawalpindi),
Nazir Junior (Peshawar) and Salim Badar (Karachi) alongwith ICC
umpires.
Television umpires are: Shakeel Khan (Karachi one-dayer), Mian Aslam
(Gujranwala one-dayer), Sadiq Mohammad (Lahore one-dayer), Siddiq Khan
(Rawalpindi Test), Ikram Rabbani (Peshawar Test) and Afzal Ahmad
(Karachi Test).
The PCB chief said former New Zealand batsman Brian Hastings will be
the ICC match referee.