October 05 Saturday 2002
Rameez for curtailment of 'Elite Panel' of umpires' time period 

COLOMBO: Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja Friday called for curtailment of three-year time period for International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires. 

"It is good that ICC has gone for quality by putting an elite panel of umpires but their tenure of three years should be curtailed," he told reporters during the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Australia. 

"I think by reducing the time limit you give other umpires the much needed opportunity," he said. 

Rameez was commenting on the two poor decisions during second day's play in the Test match. 

ICC last year put in charge its top eight umpires to officiate Test matches and named it Elite Panel of umpires. Damien Martyn looked not out because TV replay showed the ball brushed his arm rather than the glove and Razzaq also looked not out. 

Razzaq stood his ground while Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne and his team-mates celebrated the caught behind and it seemed veteran Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan succumbed to vociferous appealing. 

Rameez backed ICC's introducing of referring close decisions to third umpires on experimental basis during the ICC Champions Trophy last month. 

It was good experiment and have the field umpires to give a final verdict with the help of TV umpires and did not consume much time either. 

He called for inclusion of new umpires in the panel and said that Pakistan umpires are also umpires.