Rohan Pandit, Nikhil Patwardhan, Sadashiv Iyer, Ulhas Gandhe and Navdeep Singh Sidhu are additionally part of the A+ category.
Umpires in A+ and A category might be paid Rs 40,000 a day for a primary-class sport, whereas Rs 30,000 a day are paid within the B and C category. Though the listing was introduced as “gradation of umpires”, a BCCI official clarified to PTI that the board has created teams.
“It is not grading. There are groups, with A+ being the new category,” the official mentioned. “A+ and A, one can say, form the cream of Indian umpires. Umpires in B and C category are also good.
“When it involves assigning duties throughout home occasions beginning on the high with Ranji Trophy, choice might be given group sensible. The grouping has been performed after reviewing the performances of the 2021-2022 season.”
The board has not added to its umpires’ list since 2018. With the threat of Covid-19 reducing, the BCCI has decided to conduct a full-fledged domestic season in 2022-23 after two years.
It plans to organise as many as 1832 games across age groups in men and women’s cricket, a massive exercise.
The standard of Indian umpires is often criticised in the highly-watched IPL. Only one Indian, Menon, is currently part of the ICC elite panel.
Asked about more umpires graduating to the highest level, the BCCI official added: “We put an excessive amount of emphasis on the elite panel. Only England has three umpires within the elite panel, Australia has two and relaxation just one. You can solely have a lot there.
“The focus should be on improving standard of umpiring at all levels.”