ICC reaffirms commitment to improving umpiring standards
ICC Chief Executive David Richards today reaffirmed the Council's commitment
to reviewing and restructuring the system used for the recruitment and
appointment of independent umpires and match referees.
Richards said that the issue is one of the most important priorities faced
by international cricket: "Recent events have brought added attention to
this area but the ICC had already agreed a process for reviewing both the
use of technology and the wider issue of providing the highest standards of
umpiring and refereeing.
"We recognise that achieving these standards is a major priority and we are
working hard to agree and implement new procedures in the shortest practical
timescale" he commented.
Specifically, the ICC Cricket Committee-Playing will meet in May to review
the playing conditions applicable to the international game for the next
three years. The question of the use of technology will be included in this
process. The meeting will be chaired by Sunil Gavaskar with a Committee
including prominent former Test cricketers such as Allan Border, Zaheer
Abbas, Kris Srikkanth, Duleep Mendis and Andy Pycroft.
February's ICC Executive Board meeting in Melbourne agreed to the principle
of a major review of the regulation of the game on the field, including the
umpires and referees system. At present independent Test match umpires are
selected from a 20 strong panel nominated by full member countries (with the
current exception of Bangladesh).
The proposal under development would work towards an elite panel of eight
full time contracted umpires, who would be appointed to stand in most Tests.
Appointment to this group would be purely on merit, reflecting the seniority
and status of individuals based on, among other things, marks awarded by
Test captains.
Another group of between 25 to 30 emerging umpires would be groomed to
support, and in time join, the elite panel. A comprehensive accreditation
process would accompany this involving extensive training, physical
screening, including sight and hearing checks, and international exchange
programmes. The aim is to offer the best umpires a viable and professional
career path in the international game.
A similar approach is also planned for the ICC match referees panel. A full
time group of up to eight referees will be contracted to the ICC and
assigned to international series. A supplementary panel will be allocated to
cover other ICC approved international tournaments. Formal criteria will be
introduced to encourage the recruitment of a new generation of referees to
the panels.
A target date of April 2002 has been set for the introduction of both new
systems.
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