(Image source from: BCCI Pays USD 1)
International renowned cricket umpire Simon Taufel has been given a total of US$1,10,000 (around Rs 70 lakh) for training Indian umpires. It seems BCCI has been trying to maintain austerity at one end by curtailing unnecessary expenditure and might be trying to get word-class quality by investing huge.
BCCI has deceide to import experts to train Indian umpires for establishing them in good position. The board has chosen Retired Australian Simon Taufel, currently the ICC's Umpire Performance and Training Manager to train 100 Indian umpires.
The agreement value was US$1,10,000 as fee for 2014 and 2015. In 2014, the Board paid him a total of $55,000 as the fee and for 2015 he would be paid the same amount again. The sum is exclusive of accommodation, hospitality and other amenities during his stay in India.
No Indian has made it to the ICC Elite Panel in this decade, which is the highest level that an umpire can reach, S. Venkataraghavan was last one from India, he was officiated in a Test match in January 2004.
Hiring Taufel, who won the ICC's Best Umpire Award for five successive years, from 2004-2008, has been satisfactory and giving good results. His duties would also include conducting workshops and seminars, giving lectures, and conducting examinations etc.
The retired Australian umpire would conduct the viva-voce and practical exams of the Level-II aspirants from May 26-29. BCCI has been clever in engaging quality in spite of heavy price tag.
-Kannamsai
