The Sri Lankan Cricket Umpires Association (SLCUA) which merged with the Association of Cricket Umpires of Sri Lanka (ACU) in 1980 on a request by former officials of the Ministry of Sports has decided to take their own path sighting poor level of umpiring by the main stakeholders. The SLCUA which was initiated in 1975 was revived last Wednesday (June 29) under the leadership of Ashroff Ghany in Colombo. He indicated that they are ready for action right away.
“We have several requests from depressed members of other associations to revive our association. We (SLCUA) were operating in hand with the ACUSL for the past three decades or so. We have seen a clear decline in the quality of umpiring. So we decided to go solo,” Ghany said.
The SLCUA was reformed, according to Ghany, with the aim of maintaining a high image among the cricketing public as a strong, well organized and well managed umpiring body.
“We hope to work closely with Sri Lanka Cricket. Our main task is to install strict discipline among our members in order to discharge umpiring in a just, fair and firm manner. Unfortunately many of these areas are overlooked by existing factions,” he added.
The SLCUA will be focusing more on school cricket matches which according to many of its members lack quality of umpiring. But already the ACU and another faction made from members who broke away from them, the Professional Cricket Umpires of Sri Lanka (PCU) are in making plans to divide the huge amount of school matches among them. The third group, the SLCUA which boasts of having experienced and respected umpires is also vying for a portion of the school matches.
“The Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association in their tournament booklet has mentioned that only members of ACU should be assigned for matches conducted by them. This is not fair. Cricket belongs to everybody, not just a group or two. As a result unfair playing fields, unjust, undisciplined and unprofessional umpires have blossomed. It has been reported many times that for some school matches only one umpire is sent to officiate. They have claimed sole authority on umpiring that even. This must change,” said Ghany.
The SLCUA has already approached many cricket playing associations who had given their consent to allow them to umpire. The new committee at present is assessing the areas that need to be addressed and will be ready for action within the course of a week or so.
“We are studying the cases at the moment. At the same time there are many umpires from the other associations who have shown their interest to join us. We are looking at appointing sub-committees within the next few days and get into action right away. I’m sure we will be able to create a healthy atmosphere for cricketers, especially the youngsters with our formation. Already we have matches and we are looking at getting more games,” said veteran umpire E. K. G. Wijewardene who is the Vice President of the revived group.
With the reformation of SLCUA, the country’s cricket fraternity will have options to choose for the best of quality in umpiring. With the main arm of umpires, the ACU, and their breakaway faction the PCU, the number of umpiring associations will add up to three which in a way will be good for cricket. At the same time conflict among the three groups is quite possible.
“Our main concern is cricket not positions, politics or pride. When a single party runs affairs there are good and bad affects. In the case of umpires things are leading to an awful situation. We are not here to create any sort of conflicts or factions. If we had to corporate with them at any given situation for the sake of cricket, yes, we will be happy to do so. We hope at least the quality of umpiring could be preserved by our attempt,” Ghany observed. [NA]
Office bearers of SLCUA
Patrons: Alavi Moulana (Governor, Western Province), S. C. Vithana (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health), Linton Jayaweera (Former President of ACUSL and NSSF)
President: Ashroff Ghany; Vice President: E. K. G. Wijewardene, D. N. Pathirana; Gen. Sec: P. Athukorale; Treasurer: Austin Fernando; Asst. Sec: J. W. K. Boteju; Legal Consultant: Jayantha Pathirana; Committee Members: R. A. D. J. Ramanayake, Ignatius Anandappa, Sumith Walpita, T. K. Thajireen, Keluth Gunasinghe, V. G. Amarasena, M. K. C. Nalaka, C. Balasuuriya, J. Hettiarachchi, Thilak Massalage. |
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