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Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has disclosed the unprofessional standard of umpiring on the country's domestic circuit. He said players have a cordial relationship with the umpires, which often intervenes in decision-making. Ashraf added that the match officials even have the phone number of the players in question.
Representing the Dolphins in the ongoing Champions Cup, Ashraf was asked about the level of officiating in Pakistan. The domestic List-A tournament has witnessed some controversial umpiring moments already.
One of the instances included where Stallions' Haris Rauf was left unhappy after the umpire did not give in to his appeal for a plumb LBW against Shaheen Afridi. Another incident involved a spike on the ultra edge despite the ball not making contact with the bat.
"All the good umpires in Pakistan are gone (umpiring at a higher level) from domestic cricket. Umpiring in domestic cricket is also like this (poor) but because there is no TV coverage, no one has the idea...Now (with the Champions Cup) everyone knows at what level umpiring is in Pakistan. Good or bad, everyone knows now...Those who are appointing them have to see now who should be umpiring at what level," Faheem Ashraf told the media.
"In domestic cricket, we are friends with the umpires. They even take our phone numbers. I am talking straight. But there is no friendship here (in the Champions Cup) because everything is on the (TV) screen. Everybody is watching," he added.
Faheem Ashraf has scored 60 runs and has claimed six wickets in three Champions Cup matches. The all-rounder finished with figures of 4-50 in the Dolphins' recent loss to the Lions.
He last played for Pakistan in the series opener in Australia at Perth and had also played in the 2023 Asia Cup before that.
Match officials for Pakistan's Champions Cup include the legendary Aleem Dar
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has invested a lot of capital to get the Champions Cup underway. While the standard of umpiring is higher than the domestic level, according to Ashraf's revelations, work still needs to be done.
Nine match officials have been named to oversee the Champions Cup, including Aleem Dar, regarded as one of the finest umpires on the international circuit during his time.
