ICC Meeting: Neutral Umpires set for a comeback – In the last two years, umpires have been scrutinised more than ever. With travel restrictions due to the pandemic, ICC recommended using home umpires. But with eased restrictions, the ICC has recommended at least one neutral umpire for Tests. BCCI and the Indian players have welcomed it as they believe, “it would remove any bias”.
“It should have been done long ago. It’s a great move, to be honest and remove the bias in decisions while also helping in the fairness of the game. DRS has been really helpful but it shouldn’t be the solution. If we can spend time in bio-bubble, I don’t see why umpires can’t do that,” a top Indian player told InsideSport.
ICC Meeting: BCCI, Players welcome ICC’s recommendation on neutral umpire, ‘Great move that should remove bias’
ICC Meeting: BCCI, Players welcome ICC’s recommendation on neutral umpire, ‘Great move that should remove bias’
ICC in its recommendation said neutral umpire will be backed in the Tests while home umpires can officiate in ODIs and T20Is.
“The chief executive’s committee (CEC) acknowledged that the performance of home umpires was strong and had not affected games. The use of home umpires had also led to 12 members of the international panel umpires making their Test match debut,” the ICC said in a statement after the meeting.
“In line with a previous recommendation from the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, the CEC agreed that more neutral match officials should be utilised as travel restrictions are lifted while building on the success of the use of home umpires,” the ICC said in a statement.
ICC Meeting: BCCI, Players welcome ICC’s recommendation on neutral umpire, ‘Great move that should remove bias’
Why neutral umpires are important?
- By December 2021, 33% of player reviews were upheld while featuring neutral umpires.
- But for home umpires, the number increased to 40% while reviewing.
- It brings fairness to the game.
- Neutral umpires have fared better in decision making while compared to home umpires.
- The number of reviews has been less compared to neutral umpires.
ICC Meeting: BCCI, Players welcome ICC’s recommendation on neutral umpire, ‘Great move that should remove bias’
| Format | Referee | On-field | On-field | TV Umpire | 4th Umpire |
| Test | ICC (Neutral) | ICC (Neutral) | ICC (Home) | ICC (Neutral) | Home |
| ODI | ICC (Home) | ICC (Home) | Home | ICC (Home) | Home |
| T20I | ICC (Home) | Home | Home | Home | Home |
ICC Meeting: BCCI, Players welcome ICC’s recommendation on neutral umpire, ‘Great move that should remove bias’
“We welcome the neutral umpiring decision. All the boards and the ICC had to opt for home umpires due to covid restrictions. But now that the Covid restrictions are over, it will be only good for cricket,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
However, the BCCI official said despite welcoming back the neutral umpires, home umpires should be backed.
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“Look, it will not be fair to say that home umpires are biased. In the England series last year (India’s home series), we had some excellent umpiring. It was only possible because there were no neutral umpires. So, they have to be backed too and I think making T20Is home umpires only could be great for grooming them as there will be a bigger pool of umpires,” the official said.
Neutral umpires are expected to make a comeback in the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Test series. For India’s only Test against England in July, neutral umpires could be back.
ICC Meeting: BCCI, Players welcome ICC’s recommendation on neutral umpire, ‘Great move that should remove bias’
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