PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

A brewing controversy over the appointment of umpires in local cricket matches has sparked concerns about the credibility of the sport in Trinidad and Tobago.

Kellman Kowlessar, an executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Umpires Council (TTCUC), has raised alarm over the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) decision to appoint umpires contrary to regional standards, a move he claims undermines the integrity of the game.

The TTCUC no longer has the responsibility of appointing umpires to officiate in club cricket matches in T&T, as an appointment committee had been named by the TTCB to select match-day officials.

Kowlessar, speaking on the Isports radio programme hosted by Andre Errol Baptiste on Saturday, criticised the TTCB for appointing unqualified umpires to officiate matches in the Premiership divisions this week.

He argued that this practice is inconsistent with the protocols proposed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) and is not aligned with the procedures followed by other regional territories.

“From our information gathering today, we have umpires out there that have only written the preliminary examination, and that questions the quality that is available,” said Kowlessar.

Kowlessar stated that the latest development could lead to protests by clubs over decisions made by individuals who lack the necessary qualifications and experience. He emphasised that the TTCB’s actions could have far-reaching consequences for the sport, including a loss of confidence among players, clubs, and fans. He called for urgent intervention from key stakeholders to address the matter.

“We see, it’s clear, that we are the governing body for umpires and we have been doing this job since 1968. We still hope to have a compromise, because we don’t want to jeopardise the quality of cricket, the quality of umpiring, and the quality of the game. So we are hoping that the cricket board will respond to our email and reach out to us, and let us solve this thing as early as next week.”

In a bid to resolve the issue, Kowlessar revealed that the TTCUC will be sending letters today to two prominent figures. Vivian Johnson, president of the West Indies Umpires Association, and Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of sports and community development.

The letters will seek their mediation and intervention to ensure that proper umpiring standards are upheld in local cricket.