Former ICC elite umpire hits out at deteriorating standard of school cricket
View(s):Former member of the ICC Elite umpiring panel Asoka de Silva, who is the head of the PCU (Professional Cricket Umpires), feels that the profession of umpiring is in the wilderness as a result of some unprofessional ethics in their trade.
Asoka de Silva
He says that his association which houses over 85% of the top umpires in the country are not involved in standing at most of the school matches. As a result of this situation there is a huge deterioration of the standards in umpiring in that sector. De Silva pointed out that most of the umpires who are standing at present even fail to pick out bowlers with suspect action and such bowlers thrive while at school level. There have been some schoolboy bowlers who have bagged over a hundred wickets at school level, but, now when it comes to the international call they are picked up with illegal bowling actions and cannot operate at competitive level. He is of the view that this is why Sri Lanka had failed to come up with an impressive record at the Under 19 level, internationally.
De Silva said “At least 85 per cent of the top umpires in the country are not involved in officiating at school matches, so as a result gradually the standards are declining. I brought this subject up with the then minister. I remember that all factions involved with the subject were present there. At that meeting the minister emphasised that the situation should be resolved, but, nothing constructive had occured.”
He pointed out there are instances when the person is a teacher of a school. He is also the master-in-charge of cricket in that particular school. Then he is also the cricket coach. Besides he is an active umpire and at the same time he is also the assignment secretary and also the tournament secretary of the association. De Silva says this is an instance of conflict of interest of the highest order. De Silva is of the opinion that if the situation is not brought under control the standard of school cricket would suffer culminating in the top level being harried and hampered.