India’s limited over vice-captain Rohit Sharma while talking about the umpires said that he doesn’t see any reason as to why neutral umpires cannot travel with the teams for a bilateral series.
Cricket in the bio-secure environment has become the norm amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though cricket has started fully but it has brought a lot of challenges for the players as well as the umpires.
As per the ICC's interim playing regulations, the requirement to appoint third country officials has temporarily been removed from the playing conditions for all international formats owing to the current logistical challenges with international travel.
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While addressing the press conference before the first T20I between India and England, India’s limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma, while talking about whether ICC should allow neutral umpires in the bilateral series, said that he doesn’t see any reason why umpires can’t travel.
“Yes (on ICC allowing neutral umpire), that can be an option, if players can travel, then umpires can travel as well. I don’t see any reason why umpires cannot travel. You know make them quarantine as well, make their life difficult as well (laughs),” Rohit Sharma said during the virtual press conference.
Sharma further lauded umpiring in the recently concluded Test series between India and England, which India won 3-1, and said that considering the nature of that pitch where the ball was turning, bouncing, and going straight as well all the umpires did a terrific job.
“Having said that the umpiring in this Test series was brilliant. All three or four umpires who were part of the series did a terrific job, wasn’t easy because of the nature of the pitch.
"They have to consider so many things before making a decision, ball was turning square it was bouncing as well sometimes ball was going straight. So I thought considering those factors, I think they did a terrific job,” he said.
Team India will now lock horns against England in a T20I series starting 12th March. The five T20Is will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera Ahmedabad.
(ANI Inputs)
