BCCI introduces A+ category for umpires consisting 10 officials

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced the A+ category for umpires, consisting of 10 officials. Umpires in A+ and A categories will be paid INR 40,000 a day for a first-class game while those in B and C categories will be paid INR 30,000. 

The list was presented as ‘gradation of umpires’, however, a BCCI official confirmed that different categories were formed. ICC Elite Panel Member Nitin Menon is among the 10 officials in the A+ category. Others include Virender Kumar Sharma, Anil Chaudhary, K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan, and Madangopal Jayaraman.

Grouping is done after reviewing performances of the 2021-2022 season

“It is not grading. There are groups with A+ being a new category. A+ and A, one can say form the cream of Indian umpires. Umpires in the B and C category are also good,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express. They clarified that the preference in domestic events when it comes to assigning duties will be given as per the groups.

“When it comes to assigning duties across domestic events starting at the top with Ranji Trophy, preference will be given group-wise. The grouping has been done after reviewing the performances of the 2021-2022 season,” the BCCI official further added.

As of now, the BCCI has not changed the list of umpires since 2018. For the first time since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the board has decided to conduct a full-fledged domestic season, planning to hold as many as 1832 games across age groups in women’s and men’s categories.

When asked about more officials graduating to higher categories and levels, the BCCI official said, “We put too much emphasis on the elite panel.” Currently, Menon is the only Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. He even travelled overseas for the first time to officiate in the two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle last month. Only two countries have multiple umpires in the panel with England having three and Australia having two. “The focus should be on improving the standard of umpiring at all levels,” added the official.