Simon Taufel Feels India-Pakistan Matches Came With Added Scrutiny And Expectations

Simon Taufel is one of the most eminent umpires of recent times. Following his retirement, the five-time ICC Umpire of the year planned an online accreditation course for umpires to help them train and foster new abilities. 

Addressing Cricket Pakistan in an exclusive interview Taufel uncovered that there are three degrees of certification: basic, Level 1, and Level 2. He further expressed that the course rotates around match preparation, conflict resolution, technique, and managing the game. 

Course Only About Learning Rather Than Passing Or Failing: Simon Taufel

“The aim is to equip people with the insights and the tools to be able to benchmark their skills against best practice and since it is an online course, people can do it at their own pace.

You can retake the course because it is not about pass or fail but a case of becoming a better umpire and enjoying their craft,” said the 51-year-old. 

Taufel likewise expressed that the course is available to new and existing umpires while the latter don’t need to go through the basic level but can go through Level-1 and Level-2 to additional improve their abilities. 

Simon Taufel Misses Excitement Of International Cricket

The Australian-born pulled back from international cricket back in 2012 however said that he misses the tam work and comradery. 

“I miss being part of the excitement of international cricket but I don’t miss the travel and time away from family,” he said. 

“I certainly don’t miss the scrutiny,” he added with a smirk on his face. “It is now time to help the new generation and I am loving every bit of that.” 

India Vs Pakistan Matches Most Difficult To Officiate: Simon Taufel

The 51-year-old uncovered that after Test cricket, India-Pakistan matches were the hardest to administer in. 

“The India-Pakistan clashes came with added scrutiny and expectations because the game is being analysed by all the armchair experts,” he revealed. 

Reviewing Pakistan’s renowned series against India in 2004, Taufel said that you really couldn’t help but be diverted because of the size of the conflict. 

“You had people with machine guns guarding you and presidential-level security was assigned to the teams. You have to remain grounded as I tried my level-best to focus on the task ahead and take things one ball at a time,” Simon stated. 

During the meeting, Taufel likewise uncovered that measurably umpires get in excess of 93% of their choice right while players with DRS requests barely have a 25 percent achievement rate. 

“This shows statistically who the better umpires are but that shouldn’t stop players from wanting to become an umpire,” he added. 

Simon Taufel Concerned About Future Of Pakistani Umpires

Sharing his experience of umpiring in Pakistan, Simon said that he completely appreciated it. 

“Having been back in PSL a couple of years ago after that terrible 2009 incident, I enjoyed going back to Karachi again.” 

Sharing his contemplations on Pakistani umpires, Taufel commended Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza yet in addition stayed careful regarding where the future Pakistani umpires will come from. 

“I know Ahsan Raza for a long while and he is a fantastic and a competent umpire. Aleem Dar, as well all know, is a record-holder and they are both fantastic. However, the concern now is to see where the future Pakistani umpires are going to come from,” Taufel expressed his opinion. 

Reflecting upon the recent death of Andrew Symonds, Taufel said that he recalled probably the funniest things he saw on a cricket field. 

“A fan decided to invade the ground and he [Symonds] was on the non-striker end. Once the invader reached the pitch, Symonds decided to drop his shoulder to tackle him which knocked him out. That was probably one of the funniest incidents I have seen,” he concluded. 

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