Sports
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| Asian
umpires dumped as a pre-caution against match fixing! Unlike the last Asia cup in Bangladesh, where all seven games including the finals were officiated only by umpires from Asia, this year only three out of the six first round games have been assigned to Asian umpires while all the six second round games and the final have already been assigned to non-Asian umpires. Although Asian umpires Asoka de Silva, T H Wijewardene (Sri Lanka), A Jayaprakash (India) Nadeem Ghouri (Pakistan) and Shaheen (Bangladesh) are in the current ICC International panel of umpires they have been overlooked for the entire second round of games and instead Peter Parker (Australia) and Billy Doctrove (West Indies) who are also ICC International panel umpires have been assigned along with ICC elite panel umpires David Shepherd (England) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand). The usual practice is for the organizers, the Asian Cricket Council to appoint umpires for the tournament. However the Sunday Times learns that this year it is the ICC that has appointed the umpires for the tournament. Whether it is the ACC or the ICC that appoints the umpires, it will only be fair if the Asian umpires (who are in the ICC panel) are also given an equal opportunity like their non Asian colleagues. If not how can these Asian umpires improve? Why the ICC has resorted to this move and why the ACC is not resisting such biased moves is puzzling. Has the ACC fallen prey to the ICC? The Sunday Times learns from authoritative sources of the ACC that one reason could be to stave off any possibility of match fixing during the tournament. It's a well known fact that betting and match fixing could be high on the agenda when India and Pakistan clash in the sub -continent. Thus has the ICC already sniffed something ? Is the ICC suspicious of the Asian umpires officiating in Asia cup games? Well,if this is the case what does the future hold for Asian umpires? Even today's first round game between Sri Lanka and India is officiated by two non Asian umpires. Already it is believed that three officials from the ICC anti corruption unit comprising a South African,Indian and a Pakistani are in Sri Lanka to keep a close tab on the teams and proceedings and to prevent any form of match fixing or betting. The Sunday Times learns that stringent security measures that have never been adapted before are in place for this year's Asia Cup. So much so that a top official from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was prevented from getting his official pass to 'all areas' following the intervention of the anti-corruption officials. Although the ICC claims otherwise, it is a known fact that umpires in the Asian region have been subjected to unfair treatment. Asian umpires who have been victimized by the ICC will vouch for this. It was only last year that an Asian umpire who finished on top of the rankings after the first round of the world cup in South Africa was dumped for the second round. This year two Asian umpires were out of the ICC elite panel. One, the ICC said was to have retired, however there is still some uncertainty over this while the other umpire lost out on performance. However as claimed by many, non - Asian umpires who have comparatively performed worse, continue to be in the ICC elite panel. Cricket which is a passion in Asia is big and is supposed to be generating millions of dollars. The ICC is aware of this. Thus, it's up to the ACC to ensure that Asian umpires get a fair share of the cake. If not, the ACC should stand up and let their voice be heard instead of dancing to the tune of the ICC. |
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