Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary stirred controversy following his recent retirement, revealing troubling insights into the state of umpiring during the prestigious Ranji Trophy. This premier domestic cricket tournament has faced criticism over inconsistencies in decision-making, which threaten the fairness of the competition.
Tiwary first gained attention through his appeal to revitalize the Ranji Trophy and later caused controversy with a call to scrap the event altogether via social media posts. In a subsequent interview with india.com, however, Tiwary focused on the need for improved umpiring standards rather than the tournament itself.
“Umpiring is my main worry. Respectfully, the quality of umpiring in domestic cricket is not up to par. The BCCI needs to consider ways to enhance umpiring. It’s not just a problem for one or two seasons; I’ve been observing this for several years. There are significant errors, including some that are quite childish,” he said.
“The standard of umpiring in domestic cricket is lacking. It’s not only about significant errors; we also come across immature mistakes. These problems haven’t surfaced suddenly; they are something I’ve noticed for several years,” he added.
One particular instance highlighted by Tiwary involved an umpire who referred no-ball decisions to the third umpire after each delivery.
“In that particular match, the umpire consulted the third umpire for no-ball decisions after every delivery. I inquired, ‘Sir, why do you keep referring no-ball calls to the umpire?’ He responded, ‘How can I see the popping crease of the bowler? If I focus on where the bowler’s foot lands, I won’t be able to see what happens to the ball.’ Sometimes, umpires miss hearing a batsman nicking the ball, but everyone else at the ground has heard it,” he added.
Furthermore, Tiwary revealed an alarming revelation about some officials nursing hangovers while officiating morning matches.
“Numerous times, I’ve witnessed umpires heading to the field while still dealing with a hangover. They appear drowsy. How can they perform adequately in such a state? I questioned, ‘Sir kya liye tha kal raat mein? (Sir, what did you drink last night?)’. The response was, ‘I prefer whisky on the rocks.’ And they laugh. The BCCI should ensure the hearing and eyesight of every umpire are examined before the commencement of each season,” Tiwary said.
Manoj Tiwary’s outspoken remarks about umpiring standards in the Ranji Trophy highlight a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. These inconsistencies in umpiring can significantly influence match outcomes, adversely affecting both individual players and teams alike. As the governing body of Indian cricket, the BCCI must act promptly to tackle these challenges and preserve the integrity and fairness of the Ranji Trophy.