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| March 25, 2002 | Monday | Muharram 10, 1423 |
Seminar forges better sense of trust: Speed
CAPE TOWN, March 24: The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) four-day seminar has created a “better sense of trust” between referees, umpires and the game’s ruling body, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said Sunday.
Speed, speaking on the last day of the ICC’s umpires and referees conference at the Arabella Country Estate neat Cape Town, added it was vital umpires and referees should act as major ambassadors for the game in the future.
“This has been a very important initiative for the ICC, and for cricket generally, because the umpires in particular are our best ambassadors,” Speed said.
“What we have here is a lot of people who’ve been doing these jobs part-time now coming in to do them full-time. They’ve been very willing workers over quite an arduous programme that we’ve put together.
“I hope these guys go away from here with the sense that they are major ambassadors for the game. If we’ve achieved that, then it’s been worthwhile.”
The ICC appointed an elite panel of five international match referees and eight umpires during the seminar to stand as neutrals in all Test matches.
The eight umpires on the panel later agreed to experiment with extended television technology to aid umpiring decisions during this September’ ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka.
Among other issues addressed by the seminar over the four days were tolerance of player behaviour, understanding of playing conditions and legal implications to be considered when disciplinary charges are levelled against a player.
“There’s certainly a good sense of the group being a part of the ICC,” Speed said.
“One of the umpires said to one of our staff that the best part about the seminar is that we’re actually listening to what they say and we’ve made some changes on the basis of what the umpires and referees are saying.
“It’s been a two-way exchange. We’ve asked for their views and they have frank opinions which we’ve taken on board.
“I hope there’s a better sense of trust between these two groups and the ICC than there has been in the past.”
Speed said similar seminars were likely to be an annual feature for members of the elite panel as the ICC strives for greater professionalism at all levels of the organisation.
“This is part of a new era. I’ve said in the past that the ICC needs to work hard so that it is recognised as a respected governing body for a major sport,” he said.
“They (referees and umpires) are a major part of what we do and we have to get it right with them.”
The ICC recommendation for the extended use of television technology will now go forward for final ratification by the ICC’s executive board, which will meet in England this June.—Reuters
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