Allahudien Palekar of South Africa will be one of the on-field umpires, thanks to the umpire exchange programme the BCCI has entered into with South Africa and Australia.
From Cape Town, Palekar’s Indian roots trace back to Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. “Umpiring runs in my family and I always wanted to be one. Having played for Titans, I took up umpiring in 2006. I wanted to be associated with the game and did not want to be a coach; so the choice was to be the man in the middle,” he said.
Palekar, looking far younger than his 36 years, looks up to Aleem Dar and Marais Erasmus. “Dar is a good friend and I am in touch with him. He has given me a lot of advice.
“Erasmus is another person who has helped in my development over the last three years. He told me to start umpiring at an early stage. My grandparents are from a village called Shu in Ratnagiri district. Erasmus, who incidentally was the first foreign umpire to officiate in a Ranji match, told me before I came here, ‘it will be good experience. You will get all kinds of wickets — green tracks, turners and flat pitches.’
“In fact in my last match at the Wankhede — where Mumbai played Madhya Pradesh — the wicket was similar to the ones back home with lot of bounce and carry. Here there is not a blade of grass.”
Talking about the pressure he was likely to face, he said: “It is expected, with the fielders close to the bat and all that, but that’s what umpiring is all about.” The exchange programme, he said helps, as it “takes us out of the comfort zone, helps us experience new cultures and helps in our growth. “I will love to cover a Test, ODI or an IPL some day,” he signed off with a beaming smile.
