There will be only one cricket umpires association
View(s):Text and Picture by P D de Silva
“Cricket umpiring in Sri Lanka is at a crucial juncture. The Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka (ACUSL) is the oldest association of cricket umpires in the country. Members who differed in opinion with the office bearers broke away and formed other associations
Wasantha Fernando motivating the cricket umpires
from time to time. This splintering of the ACUSL had detrimental effects on the game. We signed a memorandum of understanding with the largest splinter association — the Professional Cricket Umpires (PCU) on first of February 2012. The time has come to merge and bring cricket umpiring in the country under one association. There are negotiations going on at the moment and the merging will be a reality in the near future” said Nihal Pathirage President of the ACUSL when he addressed the members of the Kalutara district cricket umpires Welfare Society at the Panora Holiday Resort Kalutara.
“I believe that as the pioneering umpires association and the association with the largest membership the ACUSL will be the only recognised cricket umpires association in Sri Lanka in the future. We will be conducting workshops for our members regularly and will be monitoring each member’s performance on the field.” He added.
Guest speaker Wasantha Fernando said that every individual should believe in himself and make an endeavor to reach the pinnacle in his profession as a cricket umpire. “You may be earning Rs 2500/- a day as an umpire and if you strive and reach the pinnacle of umpiring you will be earning 2500 US dollars a day! There are Sri Lankan umpires who have reached this goal and that is because they believed in themselves. It is imperative that you are fluent in English or the dream of reaching the top will elude you.”
Secretary of the ACUSL Kapila Jayalath, President of the Kalutara District Cricket Umpires Welfare Society Vidura Prasad, and secretary Rusiru de Silva addressed the gathering. Members of the Kalutara District Cricket Umpires Welfare society Sujith Chandana and Sanjeewa Fernando who were promoted to the Sara panel of cricket umpires, Gamini Wettewa who had stood in the most number of matches in 2012 and veteran umpire N A G Kumara received special awards at the ceremony
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