The ICC elite panel umpires of IPL 2020 are likely to face certain difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic and this will undoubtedly will have a negative effect on their presence in this year’s IPL.
The BCCI were eagerly looking for more umpires to provide service in this year’s Dream11 IPL 2020. However they could not rope much of them and were left with only three overseas umpires as they agreed on personal terms. The other umpires have denied to accept the proposal and hence will not travel to the UAE. Shifting towards the Elite panel umpires there is only Javagal Srinath present to take responsibility.
The BCCI made it quite mandatory to hire at least 6 overseas Elite umpires in each season of IPL. It was expected that there would be more than 6 umpires in this season as the international and domestic cricket was on hold from a very long time.
According to several sources, BCCI is still in constant touch with the Umpires.
The Indian Cricket Board has approached not so many elite umpires but still they have faced rejection from each of them. Shockingly Kumar Dharmasena who has been an eternal part of the IPL since its inauguration have declined the offer of participating in this year’s IPL. He denied by claiming that he would be involved with cricket in his country Sri Lanka.
The Elite panel umpires are avoiding to take any risk in these stressful times. They have not clearly rejected the offer but are being very cautious. On the other hand they draw a huge package from ICC’s contract. Just the Pandemic has caused all the trouble for them.
Keeping an eye on some of the confirmed foreign umpires as they include the likes of Chris Gaaffaney from New Zealand, Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth from England and not to forget the new inductee from India Nitin Menon.
The list of panel from India’s international umpires include the likes of Virender Sharma, Anil Chaudhary , KN Anathapadmanbhan and S Ravi who is a former elite panel member and these are also a part of Dream11 IPL 2020.
The total number gets to 12 umpires who would be entrusted on field and Tv umpire duties.
The Indian umpires will be given a chance to act as third umpire in case any field officials are replaced. This is a great opportunity for the Indian umpires to gain experience through proper exposure in the UAE. The Indian umpires have been mainly criticised in the past due to their false decisions.
Two Englishmen have been hired by the BCCI in place of two Australian umpires who would have been a part of IPL 2020 if it took place in March. The reason for the replacement stands as experience. BCCI wants experienced umpires to take charge in the Bio-secure Bubble.
A seminar is set to be conducted on behalf of consistent performance after the formal letter is issued. The senior Indian umpires have already been a part of training and simulating exercises of Tv umpiring. On the other hand BCCI has also conducted a lot of quiz related activities during the lockdown period.