Published: Jul 14, 2013, 03:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 23, 2014, 09:37 PM (IST)
Sadanand Viswanath (above) is waiting for 18 long years for an opportunity to umpire in an international game. Photo courtesy: Sadanand Viswanath
Sadanand Vishwanath, a former India Test cricketer, who shot to fame during the 1985 World Championship of Cricket has been on the umpiring circuit in the country since 1995. Even after 18 years, he remains hopeful for a shot at the highest level. Nishad Pai Vaidya unravels Vishwanath’s tryst as an umpire.
When India lifted the 1985 Benson and Hedges World Championship of Cricket, Sadanand Vishwanath was one of the stars of that memorable triumph. His wicketkeeping skills won him praise from the then captain Sunil Gavaskar and the stumping of Javed Miandad in the final against Pakistan is etched in the Indian fans’ memory. That victory shot him to fame, but in the years that followed he fell by the wayside and couldn’t build a long international career. Where is he today?
Having tried his hand at a few jobs in the Gulf and his hometown Bangalore, Vishwanath got a new lease of life in 1995 when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invited former India players for an umpiring exam in Secunderabad. Eyeing a new career with the sport, Vishwanath headed to the city with nine other former Test cricketers. He says, “I was elated and thrilled when it came about and wanted to continue my love affair with the game as an umpire.”
Along with Vishwanath, the former players who passed the exams were Yashpal Sharma, Maninder Singh, Pranab Roy and Parthasarthy Sharma. “We all thought we could one day officiate in international cricket, because Srinivas Venkataraghavan had done a fantastic job as an international umpire then and felt we could emulate him. We felt we could take centre stage someday,” says Vishwanath.
As the years progressed, the others left the job one by one and turned to other avenues. Vishwanath remains the only one from the batch of 1995 who continues to don the white coat. He says, “I kept striving. I wanted to take centre stage again as an umpire — which I did not get as a player for very long. So, I thought I could continue being involved with the game.”
However, 18 years on, Vishwanath is still waiting for the opportunity to umpire in an international game having been on the domestic circuit all along. His biggest game came in 2008 when India A took on Australia A in Bangalore. Apart from that, he has officiated in numerous domestic matches, including Ranji Trophy games.
It is astonishing that a former international player turned umpire like Vishwanath hasn’t been given the opportunity to move to a higher level, even after putting in 18 years into the profession. Since 1995, he has stood in 13 First-Class matches and 14 List A games. His last Ranji Trophy game was back in 2008. Apart from that, he has been an umpire in 128 miscellaneous matches under the BCCI and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) — which includes the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) and numerous age group tournaments such as the Under-19s and the Under-25s. Thus, in 18 years, his total count comes up to 155.
At the same time, consider Venkataraghavan’s record when he stood for his first One-Day International (ODI) in 1993. Prior to his international debut on January 18 that year, he had officiated in only two First-Class matches and four List A games. He had also been a match referee in three ODIs and two Tests before taking on the role in the middle.
Having a former international player umpire is rare in today’s times. Majority of them turn to coaching or commentary — which are viewed as lucrative options. Venkataraghavan was the last international cricketer from India who umpired at the highest level. Since then, there have been a few domestic players who have officiated in a few international games, but haven’t been able to establish themselves in the long run. Some of them only went as far as the ICC International Panel of Umpires, but could not get into the Elite Panel. No Indian umpire apart from Venkataraghavan has been on the Elite Panel — a body that has quite a few former international players.
Other countries have seen international players becoming umpires in recent times. A few of them are a part of the ICC Elite Panel as well. Ian Gould from England has been around for a few years. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena last played an international in 2004, but within five years he became an umpire at the highest level. He has made rapid strides since then and also won the ICC Umpire of the Year in 2012. Paul Reiffel [Australia] and Richard Illingworth [England] are the latest additions to the Elite Panel. Bangladesh’s Enamul Haque is a part of the International Panel.
Hopeful for the future
Despite all the hardships and the prolonged wait, Vishwanath remains hopeful for the future and is passionately doing his job. He says, “As an umpire my job is to see to it that the game is played in the right spirit. Thankfully, I have been doing that for the last 18 years. My life is cricket.”
The 1985 victory remains Vishwanath’s claim to fame and it was a significant landmark in his life. But, he wishes to contribute to the game as an umpire and wants the “honour of representing the country” again. “There is no point in living in the past. One has to be well informed and live in the present. The future — as much as it promises — is yet to happen. It is also so uncertain. Of course, one should have a vision and dreams, but it is important to stay in the present.”
Those aspirations keep Vishwanath going and he is focused. In 2012, Anil Kumble, the KSCA president asked him to help out with their academy as he is a qualified Level Three coach. Vishwanath turned it down as he wanted to concentrate on him umpiring duties. “I dream of officiating at the landmark venues. I hope to go to Lord’s. I wish I can go to Melbourne, where we won the 1985 Championship. I also dream of going to Colombo, where I made my Test debut. With the blessings of god, this dream can come true,” he says with hope in his heart.
Time is not on his side though. In India, non-international umpires are only allowed to continue up to the age of 55. Those who have international experience can go on till the age of 58. Vishwanath is 50 and needs the backing of the BCCI to fulfill his endeavours. Here is a former international player who wants to contribute to the game and has taken up a role as a custodian of its laws. It’s now up to the parent body to help his determined cause.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_44)
