Sharjah: Umpire Iftikhar Ali is on a mission: he wants more people to take up umpiring in the UAE and the present qualified umpires to be well-versed with the latest rules in the game.
Iftikhar, who along with Akbar Ali, are the only two umpires from UAE that figure in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Associate member nations umpiring panel. Iftikhar travels to many countries to umpire and rubs shoulders with the best umpires in the world, he wants to also pass on the experience and knowledge to other umpires here. For the last three years, he has been conducting the Sharjah Cricket Council’s Level-0 Umpiring courses teaching the basics of umpiring.
Speaking to Gulf News, Ali said: “From the time the Pakistan Test umpire Mahboob Shah came here to conduct umpiring classes, I used to be his assistant. I enjoyed teaching umpires and always made sure to discuss the laws with all umpires. It is very important to conduct not only beginners umpiring courses but also refreshing courses at the start of a season and even mid-season courses for umpires.”
Iftikhar, who has umpired ICC’s Division 5 matches in Los Angeles and Division 4 matches in England, has proved that umpires from UAE too can move up the ranks and gain international recognition. “There is lot of interest for umpiring here. For the Sharjah Cricket Council’s Level 0 course, over 30 people turned up to become umpires. Unfortunately there is no strong platform to educate the umpires here. I had suggested that all umpires in the UAE should be brought under the ECB’s (Emirates Cricket Board) umbrella even though umpires are registered under different councils. I feel ECB should rotate these umpires by assigning them to different councils for matches.”
Umpires, according to Iftikhar, should be under one umbrella because: “If only umpires sit together and discuss the laws then the flaws in them can be rectified. If umpires do not get more educated they will not progress. If only umpires come under ECB umbrella only then they will also get evaluated and judged. They can then come up the ranks like I did by becoming a Level 1 umpire and am now a Level 2 umpire.”
He made his debut as a One Day International umpire this year when Hong Kong and Scotland played in the Tri-nation series in Abu Dhabi and as a Twenty20 International Umpire last year when UAE and Ireland played in the Emirates T20 series.
Sixty-year-old Iftikhar, who is employed at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), works towards his fitness with regular workouts. “It is my fitness that helped me officiate for four continuous days in the recent Bukhatir League 50 over tournament. I am also thankful to my employers who grant me leave to officiate in international matches.”
With the new ICC rules set to come into effect from October 1, Iftikhar says: “It is very important for all umpires to sit together and understand the rules. Teaching laws is as exciting as umpiring because when you teach you can also learn, especially from the debates. Right now I am enjoying the role of a teacher and an umpire.”
