ICC initiative to develop umpires` communication skills

Mumbai: With increasing involvement of third umpire in making correct decisions, the ICC wants to start a uniform programme for all member countries, including India, to develop their communication skills by taking help from the British Council.

Towards this end, ICC`s Umpire Performance and Training Manager Simon Taufel had sought the help of the British Council during the Third Umpire training programme held in Sri Lanka a few months ago which involved umpires from the island nation, Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to a BCCI official. "Improved communication between third umpire, heads of broadcast TV production crew and on-field umpires has become important," the official said. Last year Taufell had a talk on developing communication skills individually with top Indian umpires on the ICC international panel -- S Ravi, C Shamsuddin, Anil Chaudhary and Vineet Kulkarni -- at Nagpur during the ICC`s umpire education programme. This year thirty umpires (in two batches) are covered under this communication skill programme that commenced in Bangalore today and will run upto the 18th of this month, the official said. These thirty umpires, out of the 100 who are undergoing umpire education programme in Bangalore, would be doing duty as third and fourth umpires at international and domestic matches, besides in matches of IPL and Champions League, in the forthcoming season. According to ICC rules, fourth umpires step in as third umpires if the nominated third umpire opts out in the eleventh hour because of some emergency.