Umpires146; fast-tracking programme takes a bumpy ride

Atul Bedade is the lone international to throw his hat in the ring, taking the BCCI bait

Potentially, he is known for hitting the ball harder than the Sehwags and the Dhonis, but unfortunately national selectors didn8217;t show much faith during his playing days 8211; his career fizzled out with a mere 13 ODIs against his name.

The clock has turned back and Atul Bedade is now BCCI8217;s 8216;big8217; catch 8212; and only hope 8212; with the white coat. The Indian board8217;s effort to get 8216;big cricketers8217; read international cricketers to get into umpiring has got off to a false start with the Baroda batsman being the lone international face among the 35 names received by BCCI under 8216;cricketers8217; category.

The BCCI had earlier nominated a three-member panel comprising S Venkatraghavan, SK Bansal and VK Ramaswamy to look into the umpiring fiasco after the International Cricket Council ICC openly stated that Indian umpires were below standard and blamne the board for not getting any Indian into the ICC Elite panel.

Subsequently, the BCCI came up with the idea of inviting cricketers for the job and planned two separate categories 8212;cricketers and non-cricketers 8212; to take up the umpiring examination and subsequently fast-track them 8212;depending on performance 8212; into the ICC panel. The board has also shown their preference for 8216;cricketers8217; category8217; but with all big names keeping out, this has come as a body blow to their efforts.

Speaking to The Indian Express, executive secretary Prof Ratnarkar Shetty admitted: 8220;The board is disappointed over the response. We wanted to attract more international players with our initiative. We may not have any big names here, but who knows, we may have a brilliant umpire in the list.8221;

Among other prominent first-class players enrolled for the examination to be conducted in the second week of September include Anathapadmanabhan from Kerela, S Mahesh from Tamil Nadu, former Punjab left-arm spinner Bharti Vij, Hyderabad8217;s R Shridhar, Nikhil Patwardhan and Madangopal Rao.

The BCCI had, twice before, shown such an initiative but on both occasions the attitude of the Board had left much to be desired. Bishen Singh Bedi, Jayanthi Lal, Syed Kirmani were failed only Venkatraghavan qualified and some years on, both Yashpal Sharma and Maninder Singh quit umpiring 8216;disgusted8217; over the board8217;s attitude towards them and failing to keep the promise of fast-tracking them.

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Bansal, a member of the umpiring committee, differs a bit. 8220;I once asked Sunil Gavaskar why didn8217;t he take up umpiring. He told me, 8216;I just stood in there for four overs and then I came out. I can8217;t do this.8217; So umpiring is not everybody8217;s cup of tea.

8220;Also, every player thinks within a year he will be put straight into the ICC Elite panel. It8217;s not done like that; fast-tracking doesn8217;t mean next year you will officiate a Test match. There might be a grudge over this issue. But this time the Board is very sincere, and that8217;s what matters,8221; he added.

But the players seem divided in taking up umpiring because, they think the remuneration of umpires is nothing compared to lucrative coaching offers.

8226; Good response for Ranji panel

Meanwhile, 134 applicants took the written test on Sunday evening under the non-cricketers8217; category for the Ranji Trophy panel. Conducted by DDCA on behalf of the board, the test, which lasted for three hours, included both subjective and objective type questions. Venkatraghavan, Ramaswamy and BCCI joint secretary MP Pandove were among those who supervised the examination. The interview, medical and practical tests will be held later.