Bangladesh umpires should seize the opportunity to show their potential in the Test format as they are expected to be in-charge during the upcoming home series against West Indies, said Bangladesh Cricket Board's umpires coach Enamul Haque on Sunday (December 27).
The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced neutral umpires many years ago to end accusations of home-team bias but with the Covid-19 disruption to international sport and the "logistical challenges with international travel" the ICC rescinded the rule this year to again allow home umpires and match referees.
Bangladesh completed 20 years in the Test arena in June but the country has seen only four of its umpires officiate in Tests in that period. AFM Akhtaruzzaman officiated in two Test matches while Mahbubur Rahman and Shawkatur Rahman were part of one before the ICC's rule of neutral umpire came into effect from 2002. The last umpire to be part of a Test match was Enamul Haque, who officiated in the match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe as a neutral umpire in Napier in 2012.
Enamul was also the first and last member of the emerging umpires of ICC from Bangladesh. At present, there are no Bangladesh umpires in ICC's elite panel.
The committee's recommendation made this non-neutral provision for match referees as well suggesting referees Akhter Ahmed and Neeyamur Rashid to stand a chance at realising their own international cricket dreams.
"To be an umpire in a Test match is a great opportunity and at the same time, it is an achievement," Enamul told reporters on Sunday.
''I think the chance for Bangladeshi umpires is finally coming (in Test format). We know that the host umpires would be officiating and if we can use the opportunity and perform well in the field and TV then I guess ICC will give a second thought,'' he said.
Recently, West Indian skipper Jason Holder pressed for an end to ICC's insistence on home umpires because of the coronavirus pandemic after the tourists suffered back-to-back heavy losses to the Black Caps.
Although Holder had no serious complaints about the officiating in New Zealand, he insisted that a fairer system should be in place that will have an umpire from both countries on duty.
Enamul feels that the Bangladesh umpires do not have to lose their sleep on the prospect of making a debut in Test cricket since they will be aided by DRS. ICC, while introducing home umpires for Tests, also confirmed an additional DRS review would be available for each team in each innings of a match, keeping in mind that there may be less experienced umpires on duty at times.
"There will be an additional DRS (review) so if the tourists have any doubts, they can always go for the reviews," he concluded.
Source: Cricbuzz