Association of Cricket Officials Issue 30 | Page 19

my colleague, outlining the three-phase
warning procedure set out in Law 21.3.
He explained he would submit a report
to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
for investigation. I also had occasion
to warn Aitchison for slow play arising
from unnecessary adjustments to the
field and over-long consultations (Law
41.9.2). In this, I was supported by my
colleague and by the school coach,
with whom I had a discussion after
the game.
Three games later, all of which were
lost, the Tigers played Sargoda
University. My colleague, a Grade 1 PCB
umpire for this match, was Faisal
Afridi, a member of the famous Afridi
cricketing family. A large crowd of
university students turned out to
watch the match. Constant, loud ethnic
music punctuated by an amateur
commentary, made it difficult to
concentrate and impossible to give a
decision based on sound. Such was the
enthusiasm, repeated attempts to
regulate the music during play failed.
Tigers won this match. During our
post-match discussion, Afridi explained
that umpires standing in league or
representative matches were subject
to a combination of self-assessment,
match reports and supplemented by
camera evidence taken by on-field
cameras mounted on sightscreens, all
of which were reviewed by the PCB to
decide individual umpire gradings –
progress indeed.
During the two matches played in
Muzzafarabad, one of which was
abandoned due to rain, my colleague,
Majid Hussain Awan, was another
PCB Grade 1 umpire. He explained
that he got Rs.8000 match fee and a
supplement of Rs.2000: total £70 per
PCB match. He was also given an
allowance for food, free flights and
accommodation. Majid showed me
the PCB website which listed his
appointments for the entire season.
A good umpire, with a reasonable
command of English, he asked me
whether it would be possible to
arrange an exchange with an English
umpire – an idea ECB ACO might wish
to consider.
We then moved to the 12,500 ft
Shandur Pass (pictured opposite) to
play a match on the world’s highest
polo ground where no cricket match
Wounded Tigers take to the field wearing peace turbans.
had ever been played. Passing through
majestic scenery, we arrived at the
ground in bright sunshine, but it was to
snow later, to find the opposition,
drawn from local villages, waiting for
us. They wanted to play with a tennis
ball bound with white tape (taped ball
cricket). There would be no LBWs and
no Leg byes. The rare atmosphere
made breathing difficult and some
players dizzy. Bowling would be from
one end from where I was to umpire.
In two games, each of 15 overs, the
Tigers were soundly beaten. Taped ball
cricket is widely played in Pakistan –
with the advantage of not costing as
much since balls are cheaper, the bat
is lighter and no pads or gloves are
needed. Food for thought in junior
cricket.
The next three games passed off
without incident except that I had
to invoke Law 41.6 – Dangerous
short-pitched deliveries when, on a
poor pitch, and despite at least two
friendly warnings, a bowler persisted
in bowling fast short deliveries which
reared up dangerously.
But back to the Miranshah match
which took place at the behest of the
Commander-in-Chief, Waziristan at
four days’ notice! We were flown in
two Puma operational helicopters,
taking two-and-a-half hours from
Chitral to Miranshah. On arrival, we
were greeted with all the ballyhoo
accorded to Test match cricketers.
Coloured clothing was provided and
attention lavished upon us. I was taken
in hand by my colleague, another
accredited PCB umpire, who provided
me with a black fedora and a coloured
shirt. Dr. Abdul Wasay was a real
showman. His signals, flamboyant
in the extreme, a combination of
goose-stepping and exaggerated arm
waving, added to the festive nature of
the match and provided the TV
commentators with much amusement.
In comparison I must have been
considered very dull. But we got on
very well and it was a real privilege to
have the likes of Umar Gul and Shahid
Afridi bowling from my end. During the
Select XI innings I gave Inzamam out
caught behind but as I raised my finger
he turned his back. Discretion being
the better part of valour, I lowered my
finger and the match continued as
though nothing had happened! At the
end of the game Inzamam was kind
enough to give me his hat, presumably
as some sort of consolation for not
walking; c’est la vie! The match was
staged to provide confirmation that
the Taliban had, at last, been driven
from Waziristan so that the people
could now return to their homes with
confidence that they could now live
their lives in peace. The Tigers more
than played their part in