by T. Rajah our Badulla sports corr.
Umpires attached to the Badulla District Cricket Umpires Association have decided to keep away from the Badulla District Division III cricket tournament until their problems are solved.

It all started with the controversial results of a Division III encounter where one section of the umpires said that the Parabola system should be adopted, while the other section said that a nett total average should be the decider when a match is abandoned.

Now a new problem has cropped up with regards to umpiring. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka only umpires who attend seminars in Colombo should be given opportunities to umpire Division III matches. Some Umpires who did not attend the seminar have been given appointments in Badulla while certain umpires have been ignored says a section of the umpires.

While the Badulla Cricket Umpires Association in operation in Badulla, the Badulla District Cricket Association has appointed a separate Umpires Committee in Badulla. The Umpires Association is of the opinion that such a committee is not necessary when already there is an Umpires Association functioning in Badulla.

The cricket playing clubs and cricket fans in Badulla are of opinion that the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka should intervene and solve the problem as at present umpires are being brought from Nuwara Eliya, Gurutalawa and Moneragala to officiate in the Division III tournament matches.