ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s highly experienced and one of the most credible former Test umpire Mian Aslam urged Pakistan Cricket Board to take benefit from the services of former umpires and utilise their vast experience and knowledge in best possible fashion.
Mian Aslam expressed these views during an exclusive interview with The Nation on Thursday. He said: “Former umpires are left to die on bed and no one from PCB bothers to know whether the old guards are alive or passed away. Former cricketers had the option of working in different capacities and the PCB also support them. But sadly when it comes to former umpires, who had given their entire lives to game, no one bothers to consider their abilities for suitable roles.”
Mian Aslam said he started umpiring in first class cricket way back in 1973 and supervised first three-day match in 1979 between Pakistan and India in Multan. “I performed umpiring duties in first ODI in 1981 at Lahore between Pakistan-Sri Lanka match and officiated first Test in 1983 at Hyderabad and also performed my duties in 1996 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and was an ICC elite panel umpire from 1999 to 2001. I retired from umpiring in 2009. I had requested the PCB to allow me conduct the final of National T20 in Lahore before I get retired but my request fell on deaf ears and instead they sent Rs one million to me. It was great gesture, but it is my humble request, a person, who had served so long should be given decent and proper farewell.”
He said he was still involved actively to serve the game of cricket and soon after retirement he offered his services to Pakistan's arguably one of the most highly regarded club Muslim Gymkhana. “The club has produced number of great stars including Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Mudassar Nazar, Aamir Sohail, Inzamamul Haq, Amir Malik, Ramzan, Taufiq Umar and other international players. The club has rich history of producing international players, who had not only represented country at Test level, but also had the honour of captaining Pakistan cricket team. But now the future of not only Muslim Gymkhana, but 18 other clubs and around 1400 players, who practiced at historic Iqbal Park, Manto Park cricket ground looked highly bleak as Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has ordered to convert the park into modern lake.”
He requested to Punjab CM to reconsider his decision, which would spell disaster for Pakistan cricket and especially the future of Lahore cricket as it would almost be dead if the proposed plan materialised, as it is the only ground where youngsters enjoy playing cricket and fulfill their potential. “I am dead sure, the CM is a sports loving person and he would consider the consequences and impact of depriving cricketers from cricket ground.”
Mian Aslam said the PCB could take advantage from former umpires’ matchless experience by utilising their services at National Cricket Academy (NCA). “We could pass on our experience to generation next and it would also enhance the image of the board as well and the former umpires would also feel that their long association with the PCB was finally recognized. The young umpires would benefit a great deal.”
Aslam said that during his era, umpiring was very difficult as umpires didn't have liberties of modern era. Despite that, umpires commit much less mistakes and standard of umpiring was so high and present umpires must remain in contact with past great umpires to ensure margin of error remains at its lowest ebb, he addesd.
Mian Aslam said he had worked with Lahore Region Cricket Association in three different committees and now he was actively involved in helping Muslim Gymkhana Club to get back to its past glory days. “I am taking club team to different cities for friendly matches, which would further flourish their talent and could provide national team future stars,” Mian Aslam concluded.