Umpires stump Test cricket in Pakistan

Cricket, it seems, is refusing to happen in Pakistan. After international teams, international umpires are expressing reservations about travelling to the country.
The proposed series against Sri Lanka has already been delayed by the reported reluctance of Mahela Jayawardene & Co.  DNA has learnt that the International Cricket Council’s elite panel umpires from outside the subcontinent are reluctant to officiate in Pakistan because of security concerns.

Test matches require third-country umpires and match referees, so Sri Lankan or Pakistani umpires on the elite panel cannot officiate. The participation of Indian officials is out of the question in view of the current standoff between the neighbours.
Top ICC officials have said they will have the security monitored by an independent agency before appointing umpires for the series.

An ICC official, who did not want to be identified, said umpires are within their rights to raise security fears, just like any international player or team. “The issue is that of safety. Security is not simply a matter for players; it’s also a matter for everyone else - broadcasters, journalists, and match officials too, as well as spectators,” the official said.

The ICC spokesman refused to confirm or deny the umpires’ reluctance to visit Pakistan. “From the ICC’s perspective, what would be required is that the match officials are afforded the same level of security as any and everyone else,” the spokesman said. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is believed to have agreed to provide the same level of security to the players and the umpires.

Pressed for a reply, the ICC spokesman said there were enough personnel to do the job. “Security would have to be assessed on an ongoing basis anyway as we move towards the ICC Champions Trophy 2009,” the spokesman said. “We would have done that during the India-Pakistan tour, had it taken place. But the ICC has a significant number of officials and would certainly expect to be able to identify enough of them to stand in the tour.”

The ICC has not announced umpires for the series because the itinerary, signed by both the boards, has not yet been submitted. But it is learnt that the ICC will approach the umpires who officiated during the Asia Cup in Pakistan and in the series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe last year —Anthony Hill (New Zealand), Simon Taufel (Australia), and Ian Gould (England). Alan Hurst (Australia) was the match referee.