With the aim to improve the standards of umpiring in the country, Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) is set to hold a two-day umpire refresher course.
The course, which starts today, will be facilitated by Uganda’s senior umpires Francis Ekalunga and Patrick Makumbi and 2011 ICC Africa Volunteer of the year award winner Baker Elonge.
According to UCA administrative officer Martin Ondeko, over 20 umpires are expected to take part.
“We expect the number to be bigger on the day” said Ondeko.
Over 25 umpires are used by UCA to cover and organise different cricket activities including schools’ cricket, league games and hosted international engagements.
A cricket umpire is not to be confused with the referee who usually presides only over international matches and makes no decisions affecting the outcome of the game.
Traditionally, cricket matches have two umpires on the field, one standing at the end where the bowler delivers the ball (Bowler’s end), and one directly opposite the facing batsman (usually, but not always, at square leg).
However, in the modern game, there may be more than two umpires; for example Test Matches have four: two on-field umpires, a third umpire who has access to video replays, and a fourth umpire who looks after the match balls, takes out the drinks for the on-field umpires, and also arranges travel and meals for all of the umpires.
Since 2002, the ICC has two panels of umpires: namely the Elite Panel of Umpires (two of which are, in theory, appointed to each Test Match) and the larger International Panel of Umpires.