Qamar Ahmed: Meeting of National Grid Umpires and Referees (18 Jul 1998)

18 July 1998

Meeting of National Grid Umpires and Referees

Qamar Ahmed

"The introduction of the National Grid panel of international umpires and referees by the ICC has raised the general standard of the game," says the former Sri Lankan captain Ranjan Madugalle who is one of the panel of referees along with his compatriot Sidath Wettimuny. Madugalle was here to attend the first ever joint meeting of the National Grid international umpires and referees from all over the Test playing nations which ended here last weekend. The role of the referee, Madugalle says is broad based one where he is facilitated to get the game run in a much better way than it did.

"People found that certain traditions and values were fast disappearing and to put it in the right direction referees and international umpires were brought in. Intensity of the battle will always be there between the countries playing against each other but we are there to minimise it so that real traditional values of the game is safeguarded. I think in that sense the referee's role has brought about certain aspect of the game into its correct perspective," says Madugalle.

"Constant evaluation is taking place because the nature of the job that we have," he says. After every match three reports are submitted to the ICC about the umpires. Two by captains and one by the referee and then the performance of the umpires are analysed. If their is any shortcoming and weaknesses it is communicated to them through their respective boards, so there is a constant evaluation, says the former Sri Lankan captain.

Madugalle also endorses the idea of the world championship of Test cricket. "It is a good thing. To get the logistics in place will be tough but it is practical. I havn't studied the various proposals about the idea closely as yet but I think it is a step in the right direction," opines the referee.

Sri Lankan cricket he thinks is on the high and there is a lot of talent coming up. More and more youngsters are playing the game and there is a lot of competition amongst them, which is a healthy sign for the country's cricket, says Madugalle.

His countryman K. T. Francis a member of the National Grid international panel of umpires was also of the view that the game has benefitted through the introduction of referees and panel of umpires. "There is less bickering and sledging and the players now do accept the fact that we are there to stay and police the game in the best way possible to run the game in the right spirits. We do make mistakes, if we don't we will not be human.

But we try not to make another. In 1996 at Trent Bridge I gave Alec Stewart out and the giant screen showed that he was not out. I made a mistake. I told Alec it was not wilful and he understood that," said Francis. "The standard of umpiring is gone up internationally and in Sri Lanka admits Francis. Umpiring with other umpires from various countries one learns a lot and I enjoy being on the panel, because it provides you with a lot of confidence," he says.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)