BCCI training umpires for Elite Panel
Gopal Sharma

Jasbir Singh, former international umpire

"Hats off to S Venkatraghavan! The only umpire to figure in the ICC Elite Panel from India so far, he announced his unwillingness to continue when he realised that his best days as an umpire were behind him," said Jasbir Singh, former international umpire. Venkatraghavan, the former India captain and the famed off-spinner, retired from umpiring after officiating in 73 Tests and 52 ODIs in March 2004,

The BCCI, finding itself in somewhat awkward situation (as a major cricket country like India does not have any representation in the Elite Panel), has initiated a couple of steps to correct the "anomaly", disclosed Jasbir, who first officiated in the ODI between India and West Indies at Kanpur in 1994.

Elaborating on the steps taken by the Board to improve the standard of umpiring in the country at the domestic level, Jasbir, who donned the white coat till 2000, said 13 coaches for umpires have been appointed this season.

"This is a novel concept initiated at the instance of MP Pandove, joint secretary of the BCCI. The coaches of umpires have been given the responsibility of monitoring domestic umpiring standards in the country. S Venkatraghavan will judge the overall progress," said the former Punjab left-arm spinner and himself an umpire coach.

Jasbir revealed that from this season onwards, all the first class games like Irani Trophy, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and other are being covered by six video cameras.

"An umpire coach monitoring a match now has four images from different of a delivery, a catch taken or a run-out attempt. This allows minute scrutiny of whatever is happening on the ground. He will maintain notes of the proceedings and discuss and explain to the on-field umpires and captains where they went wrong after the day’s play," he said.

An overall report of the matches will then be sent to the BCCI for the final analysis," Jasbir added. Surprisingly, he said, it has been found out that the standards of umpiring in domestic cricket was not as bad as it was being made out to be.

"Simon Taufel (world No 1 umpire from Australia) organised a clinic for the first class umpires as well as umpire coaches in October and November last," he revealed. Taufel visited the country under the three-year agreement between India and Cricket Australia.

"Measures such as these are definitely going to improve the standard of umpiring in the country," he assured.

Saying that the standard of umpiring in the Sydney Test was probably the worst he had seen in his lifetime, Jasbir said that Steve Bucknor was earlier slated to umpire in the Twenty20 World Cup final between India and Pakistan, but was changed at the last moment.

India had forwarded the names of Suresh Shastri and Amish Saheeba, the two international umpires for their promotion to the ICC Elite Panel. "Though, they did not get the nod, they are doing a good job and their chance will come," he said.

Jasbir was said the grooming and monitoring system was in place for domestic umpires and now, thanks to the steps taken by the BCCI, India may soon have its umpires in the Elite Panel.