Why appoint Taufell and Koertzen?

Elmo Rodrigopulle

I am not trying to challenge or contest the appointments of Simon Taufell and Rudi Koertzen to umpire the crucial semi-final of the 2007 World Cup between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the Sabina Park.

Taufell is from Australia and Koertzen from South Africa.

With the Australia and South Africa also contesting the World Cup, the International Cricket Council's Umpires Committee had they did a bit of thinking, they could have left these two umpires out and appointed two from countries not playing the semi-finals and finals. As such dismissals made by Taufell and Koertzen, especially the LBWs could come in for question and criticism. And this happened when umpire Koertzen ruled Chamara Silva out LBW. Television replays showed that Silva had got an inside edge to the ball and that Koertzen had boobed. When Silva was given out he was going well and Sri Lanka was not comfortably placed. Silva was well set for a big score.

The appointing of Taufell and Koertzen for this game left a bad taste in the mouth. The umpires committee's decision is intriguing when one sees that the umpires for the Australia and South Africa game are Steve Bucknor of West Indies and Aleem Dar of Pakistan. Better thinking next time ICCUC.

Then a few overs later Taufell committed sacrilege when he ruled Tillekeratne Dilshan LBW. TV replays showed that even if there were three more stumps Dilshan would still have been not out.

Poor umpiring for a match of this status when one considers that this is a sudden death match.

Sabina Park, Tuesday.