Gurung debuted as umpire in ICC official tournament with this match. Gurung is first one to umpire as well as play cricket for Nepal. Gurung was the team member of the first ACC trophy played in Malaysia in 1996. He has played two international matches for Nepal. Gurung started umpiring career this year from ACC U-17 Elite Cup held in Kathmandu. “They were excited after learning that Taufel will be umpiring along with them in the match.” Raman Shiwakoti, Nepali cricket umpire recalled the previous nights´ talk with Sanjay, adding, “Sanjay only knew he will get the opportunity to umpire along with Taufel after he reached Singapore, this is historic day for Nepali Cricket umpires.”
Last week Shiwakoti and another Nepali cricket umpire Himalraj Giri secured first two positions in ACC Level-2 course in Qatar.
ICC Associate and Affiliated Panel umpire Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan played third umpire´s role in the match between Norway and Botswana. Pradhan, who umpired in 12 one-day international cricket matches so far too hasn´t got a chance to share the honor with the likes of Taufel in the field. “This is a coincidence” said Shiwakoti.
The door for Nepali citizens to play their role in the field opened only after advance umpiring course held in Nepal in 2004. However, Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan had the opportunity of umpiring in 2001 ICC world cup qualifying trophy in Canada. He later umpired in the match between Nepal and visiting world´s oldest cricket club, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), in which England´s One Day International umpire John Hampshire was his partner.
It was Pradhan´s first foray in the umpiring field. Pradhan, who had umpired three matches in world cup qualifier level-2 matches so far, has partnered with controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair in the one day international match between Scotland and Canada.
Division 6 will be held till September 5. Another Nepali umpire Binaya Kumar Jha is also slated to umpire in the tournament. Jha umpired in the match between Guernsey and Singapore on Sunday. Like Gurung, Jha is also umpiring first time ICC tournament.
Taufel, who first umpired in test cricket at the age of 29, is now 39 years old. His one unfulfilled dream is to umpire in the world cup final match. Australia reached in the final of the previous four world cup final preventing Taufel´s chance. Gurung, a resident of Bhairahawa, has an aim to reach into Associate Panel. Lots of umpires of associate nations share the same dream.
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