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Awesome Akram takes Pak home against Lanka

Pakistan 246/9 in 50 overs, Sri Lanka 237 all out in 49.3

Anyone ever hear of BA Jamula? SC Gupta? F Gomes?

Like it or not, they were, in that order, the umpires on the ground, and the third umpire, for the inaugural match of the tri-series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.

And before the series is over, you will hear 18 more such names. Most of them complete unknowns, suddenly pitchforked onto centrestage, and expected to adjudicate at the highest level of the game.

We just don't learn, do we? The Titan Cup tri-series in 1996, featuring South Africa and Australia, was marred by this same policy, of giving everyone and his uncle a chance to don the white cap and go out there and do his stuff. There were many mistakes, much sloppy on-field handling of the game. And much criticism, of this policy of pleasing member associations by handing out umpiring assignments like so many party favours.

It was suggested at the time that the best policy was to rotate the assignment between the six best umpires in the country -- said six to be picked on the basis of their performances in domestic cricket. It was suggested, too, that the third umpire in particular needed to be someone with experience, someone who knew the limitations of the video replay and could use the technology to give picture-perfect decisions.

And here we are, four years on in time, making the same darned mistake. Three holders of the World Cup playing a tri-series. Pakistan and India participating, which automatically ups the ante and gives 'pressure' a new definition. And what do we get? F Gomes and his ilk?! Before this series is over, there is going to be an uproar about the umpiring -- an uproar that could have been avoided had we learnt from our own mistakes.

The Pakistan innings

Scoreboard