BCCI to pay Rs.70 lakh to Simon Taufel for training Indian umpires

Australian Simon Taufel (left) was adjudged the best umpire in the world by the International Cricket Council for five consecutive years, from 2004 to 2008. He was highly respected by the top players.On the one hand the new BCCI set of office-bearers are taking steps to curtail unnecessary expenditure, and on the other the Board has been spending a fortune on educating its umpires.

It is a fact that no Indian has made it to the ICC Elite Panel - the highest level umpires can reach - for more than 11 years, since S. Venkataraghavan officiated in a Test match in January 2004.

As if to set that wrong right, the BCCI in 2013 decided to import experts to educate Indian umpires. Retired Australian Simon Taufel, currently ICC's Umpire Performance and Training Manager, was chosen to educate 100 Indian umpires before the 2013-14 season.

Taufel's services, however, have come at a big cost as the BCCI has paid a total of US$1,10,000 as fee for 2014 and 2015, says a source in the BCCI. At the current rate of exchange of Rs.63.81 per dollar, it amounts to more than Rs.70 lakh.

"Taufel was hired to educate Indian umpires ahead of the 2013-14 home season. In 2014, the Board paid him a total of $55,000 as fee and for 2015 he would be paid the same amount again," the source told Mail Today.

"Mind you, this is only his fee. This amount doesn't take into account the other services that he has availed during his visits, like hotel accommodation etc.," he pointed out. "If the BCCI is out to check excess expenditure, maybe they could take a look in this area too."

One of the most respected umpires till he retired after the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 - he won the ICC's Best Umpire Award for five successive years, from 2004-2008 - Taufel is said to have prepared a "improvement-oriented curriculum" for Indian umpires. His other responsibilities in India include conducting workshops and seminars, giving lectures, and conducting examinations etc.

The previous BCCI set-up, led by N. Srinivasan, contracted Taufel for three years, till this season. The Jagmohan Dalmiya-Anurag Thakur combine came to power in March, and it remains to be seen if they persist with the existing policy with regard to umpires or bring in a new one.

According to a senior BCCI official, the outcome of Taufel's involvement with Indian umpires so far has been "positive" as he has helped them raise their standards.

"How many umpires [familiar with modern methods] do we have [for this job]? Only Venkataraghavan - or V.K. Ramaswamy or Piloo Reporter. There's none beyond them. Taufel is an expert in his field, that's why he has been given this contract," he told Mail Today.

"But, at the same time, it is unfortunate and shameful on our part that after Venkataraghavan, no Indian has made it to the ICC Elite Panel. What I personally feel is that our umpires can be good in the practical aspects of the job, but when it comes to writing in the English language they are found wanting," he said. That was why the BCCI told them a few years ago to learn the language, even if they have to join coaching classes.

This year, Taufel, 44, took charge of the Umpires' Training and Performance Management Programme before the 2015 IPL started and is back to watch the business end of the tournament.

The Australian, who officiated in 74 Tests, 174 One-Day Internationals and 34 Twenty20 Internationals between 1999 and 2012, will now conduct the viva-voce and practical exams of the Level-II aspirants from May 26-29.

No examination for Level-II aspirants has been held for more than one-and-a-half years. To get rid of the rust, the BCCI held a refresher course for them on May 16 and 17 at the National Academy of Umpires in Nagpur. A total of 57 young umpires, who had passed the written Level-II test and had been patiently waiting for the viva and practical examination, turned up for the course.