Mumbai: The Indian cricket board wants "younger" umpires. According to the highly placed sources in BCCI, 58 years is the maximum age limit for them to officiate in the matches. This was confirmed by Ravi Sawant, the chairman of the Umpires Sub-Committee.
Speaking exclusively, he says, "We have deliberated on several issues including the age-limit for the umpires. It was decided to have this age limit (58 years) for the umpires. The decision will be conveyed to the BCCI's working committee for ratification."
At present, the BCCI have three categories of umpires. The age-limit for Test umpires is 60 years, for umpires officiating in only ODIs' (but not in Test matches) is 58 years and Ranji Trophy umpires' age- limit is 55 years.
The BCCI, however has been flexible and if the umpires were medically fit enough and having good eye-sights were still getting the assignments irrespective of their age-limits.
S. Venkatraghavan, the former ICC umpire and who currently has been on BCCI's pay-roll as Director (umpiring), didn't attend the meeting for some personal reasons.
Pension enhanced for retired umpires
"The committee has also proposed the enhancement of the pension amount of the retired umpires. Now we have proposed that all BCCI retired umpires should get a monthly pension of Rs. 25,000, instead of Rs. 15,000", informs Ravi Sawant.
Simon Taufel invited
"As was the past, the former ICC Elite Panel umpire, Simon Taufel (Australia) will be invited in August to deliver lectures and guide the aspiring umpires of the nation", he added
