Bucknor backs ICC’s home umpiring decision in corona period
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|| Desk Report ||
Former ICC Elite panel umpire Steve Bucknor has backed ICC’s interim-decision to arrange ‘home umpire’ to conduct matches during the period of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic.
Given the challenges of international travel with borders being closed, limited commercial flights and mandatory quarantine periods, the ICC Cricket Committee recommended that local match officials be appointed in the short-term to conduct games.
“Due to the pandemic, ICC has changed their previous method of umpire appointments of outside umpires to home officials. One can understand the reasoning behind this move but it was something that at least two countries (their captains) had asked for, wanting the best umpires for their games wherever they are from, the home country included,” said Steve Bucknor, who will turn to 75 this week.
“Referee Chris Broad is professional enough to ignore the idea of his son representing England to interfere with fair judgment of the participants of the game,” Bucknor said over telephone from New York.
“Professionals (umpires and match referees) are neutral,” he added.
Bucknor, who has officiated in more than 300 international matches (128 Tests and 181 ODIs) is ambitious to officiate in IPL.
“I’ve been umpiring in New York for the past three years, from April to September. This has kept me busy for the long season with an average of 7 games weekly, T-20 to 40 overs and it is my wish to be on BCCI's IPL panel of umpires,” he concluded.
