ICC re-introduces neutral umpires in international cricket post COVID-19

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has disclosed the return of neutral umpires to international cricket post-COVID-19. During the pandemic starting from early 2020, the cricket panel introduced home umpires, however, has once again re-introduced the neutral umpires.

ICC chief Greg Barclay, while talking to local media in Dhaka, said some good things happen to cricket in two-three years of the pandemic which includes exposure of home umpires to international cricket.

Notably, umpires from host countries were included to umpire the match, however, the re-introduction of neutral umpires has been decided following the recent complaints against the home umpires.

In the recent Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa, two of the umpires were accused of biased decisions. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also said that it would file a complaint against those umpires to ICC.

According to the ICC chief,

“There were some benefits [of Covid] for cricket. One of them was the chance to use umpires at home. It has given home umpires some exposure to international cricket,

“I think that’s good. It spread the base a little bit wider. But, we are on the other side of Covid. So we are reintroducing the neutral umpire arrangement… You will see neutral umpires back up and running again,”

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