Asoka de Silva to repair battered image of Sri Lankan umpiring

Former Sri Lankan cricketer turned umpire Asoka de Silva will be the man to restore the battered image of Sri Lankan umpires. Asoka has been assigned to officiate the second test between India and Zimbabwe along with Zimbabwean Ian Robinson starting on this Friday, at Harare.

The standard of Sri Lankan umpires has been highly criticized in the recent past and during the recently concluded English tour, it was at its lowest ebb in the first two Tests. Sri Lanka had the benefit of some dubious umpiring decisions in the First Test at Galle while England had there share of luck in the second at Kandy.

However Asoka de Silva, who has been on the international stage for just over two years, commanded the respect of the players in the Third Test at SSC.

According to Director of Umpiring of the BCCSL, K.T Francis, English skipper Nasser Hussain praised Asoka in his report and even recommended him to be picked to officiate regularly in further international matches.

At the retirement of B.C Cooray, Asoka was nominated for the ICC panel of umpires. Francis said the second umpire will be nominated after a close look at those used in the "A" series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.