The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its panel of match officials for the 2020-21 domestic season on Thursday (September 3). 20 elite match officials, including six match referees and 12 umpires were announced, with a supplementary panel being introduced for the first time. That panel will include umpires and referees unable to find a place in the elite panel. A 15-member development panel of match referees and a 72-member development panel of umpires was also named.
Saman Zulfiqar was named as one of the match referees in the development panel, making her the only female official in the panel. Zulfiqar has been a development match referee for three successive years as part of the PCB’s decision to encourage female officials to get involved in the game.
“I want to congratulate all the match officials on their inclusion in the 2020-21 domestic panel and hope they will have a good season in which they will perform their duties to the best of their abilities,” said Bilal Qureshi, PCB’s manager for umpire and referees.
PCB also named its women umpires panel for the upcoming season, offering each of them season contracts. Those named in the panel will serve as match officials in women’s domestic matches for the 2020-21 season, the schedule for which is yet to be announced.
The eight-member panel includes former Pakistan off-spinner Sabhat Rasheed who played 13 ODIs between the 2005-2007 and took 12 wickets.
“This year’s assessment and appraisal process was transparent and merit-based in which two independent former ICC match officials reviewed the performances of all the officials, while accessing their self-assessments and video decisions during the season (where available) as well as presentations, interviews, knowledge and understanding about the Laws, decision-making and man-management skills. Separately, the match officials also underwent fitness tests, which are mandatory and as per international standards,” Qureshi added.
“This robust process was carried out to ensure the best match officials can officiate in the PCB-organised tournaments and through their good knowledge and understanding of the Laws and regulations, contribute in enhancing the standard and quality of the 2020-21 domestic cricket.
“At the same time, we have provided a pathway to the supplementary and development panel umpires with the incentive being a place in the elite panel. I understand this is a challenging pathway but such is the role that only the best of the best can move up the ladder and this can only happen through determination, consistent performances, correct application of the Laws and regulations, and good match management.”
Panel of women umpires: Afia Amin, Hummairah Farah, Nazia Nazir, Nuzhat Sultana, Riffat Mustafa, Sabahat Rasheed, Saleema Imtiaz, Shakila Rafiq.
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