‘Human Errors Are Inevitable in Umpiring; Efforts for Improvement Are Essential’
It is unacceptable to dismiss continual errors made by umpires as merely human mistakes. Controversial umpiring decisions during the Prime Minister’s Cup cricket tournament have drawn criticism from players and fans alike. International umpire Sanjay Gurung emphasized the need for practice, evaluation, and dialogue to improve Nepali umpiring standards. The Cricket Association of Nepal has also suggested developing a grading and disciplinary system for umpires.
On April 20, in Kathmandu, the recently concluded Prime Minister’s (PM) Cup one-day cricket matches in Bagmati and Madhesh provinces sparked criticism over umpiring decisions. Both social media users and players protested the erroneous calls made during the games. Bagmati Province captain Sandeep Lamichhane and Lumbini captain Dev Khanal openly contested umpiring decisions on the field. Meanwhile, Nepal Police Club player Karan KC posted on social media, “What is the punishment if an umpire gets assaulted?” Many concluded that the standard of umpiring in the PM Cup was weak.
In a conversation with international umpire Sanjay Gurung, he stated, “Umpiring itself is a highly challenging profession. It comes with equal challenges. An umpire makes around 20 decisions in a single day, and one of those might be a mistake. However, the 19 correct decisions usually go unnoticed.” He added, “Minor errors by umpires occur everywhere, whether in Nepal or other countries.” According to him, adequate preparation is essential to improve umpiring, which is currently lacking.
Gurung further explained, “Another crucial aspect of umpiring is communication. Players seek answers from umpires regarding every ball and decision.” He continued, “It is a misconception to label all umpiring mistakes solely as human errors, but it is the umpires themselves who must strive to reduce such errors.” He added, “Even if Nepal has not played in the World Cup, it participates in international-level matches. Therefore, the standard of umpiring must certainly improve.”