Pepsi World Cricket League Division 6 got underway in Singapore from Saturday. In the first day’s play between Norway and Botswana, which Norway won by 19 runs, Sanjay Gurung, a Nepali umpire, not only made his debut in an ICC event but also fulfilled his cherished dream.
Gurung accompanied world number one umpire Simon Taufel in the match. Taufel, whom ICC adjudged world’s best umpire since 2004, was in Singapore as tournament inspector but later decided to play his role as field umpire in the match.
Gurung is first Nepali player-turn-umpire. He was a member of the Nepali national team during the first ACC Trophy 1996 played in Malaysia and played in two matches.
Gurung started umpiring this year from ACC U-17 Elite Cup held in Kathmandu.
“We were excited after learning that Taufel will be umpiring along with him in the match.” Raman Shiwakoti, a Nepali umpire in Kathmandu said recalling his talk with Gurung the previous night. “Sanjay only knew he will get the opportunity to umpire along with Taufel after he reached Singapore, this is historic day for Nepali umpires.”
Apart from Gurung, Vinay Kumar Jha and Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan, a member of ICC Associate and Affilate Umpire Panel, is also officiating in the event. Pradhan was the third umpire in the match that his ideal Taufel umpired.
Pradhan, who umpired in 12 one-day international cricket matches so far, too hasn’t got a chance to share the honor with Taufel in the field. “This is a lucky coincidence” said Shiwakoti.
Pradhan has shared the honor with John Hampshire in the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)’s match against Nepal and with Daryll Hair in an ODI between Scotland and Canada.
The door for Nepali citizens to play their role in the field opened only after advance umpiring course held in Nepal in 2004. And, Nepali umpires are doing well. Last week Shiwakoti and another Nepali cricket umpire Himal Raj Giri secured first two positions in ACC Level-2 course in Qatar.
Jha officiated the match between Guernsey and Singapore to make his debut in the ICC event.
Taufel, who first umpired in test cricket at the age of 29, is now 39 years old. His one unfulfilled dream is to umpire in the world cup final match. Australia reached in the final of the previous four world cup final preventing Taufel´s chance. Gurung, a resident of Bhairahawa, has an aim to reach into Associate Panel. Lots of umpires of associate nations share the same dream.