Image: Northeast Now

Silchar Veteran Cricketers Club (SVCC) is all set to host a state level cricket umpires’ seminar cum workshop on September 9 and 10 next.

Disclosing this at a press conference, president of SVCC, Bijendra Prasad Singh, said, “With the help of president of District Sports Association of Silchar, Babul Hore, we have been able to rope in two high class BCCI panelist umpires.”

“One is from West Bengal, Satrajit Lahiri, and the other from Jharkhand – Somnath Jha,” he added.

Bijendra Singh also said, “Both these umpires have been officiating for BCCI in elite as well as plate group of Ranji matches, apart from doing their umpiring for BCCI’s Vijay Hazare and Syed Mustaq Ali trophies, for more than a decade.”

“Their presence in Silchar for this two-day seminar cum workshop shall not only benefit the state level umpires of Assam, but also help other cricket enthusiasts and players to learn some cricket skills as both of them are renowned coaches of their respective states and country as a whole,” said Singh.

Speaking more on conducting this state level umpires’s seminar cum workshop, secretary of SVCC, Niranjan Das, informed, “Satrajit Lahiri, apart from being a BCCI umpire is the head coach of M S Dhoni Cricket Academy, both in India and abroad.”

“He also teaches coaches at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) of BCCI,” Das added.

“Somnath Jha too, apart from representing Bihar for the Ranji trophy matches, was a state level coach for the Under-17 and Under-23 cricket squads for Jharkhand,” Das also said.

“We cannot ask for more and are anxiously waiting to avail their technical know-how and services,” added Das.

Niranjan Das, further said, “We are now approaching through mail, phone calls and official letters all state and district level umpires of Assam to come here and take part in this seminar cum workshop.”

“We would bear all the expenses for accommodation and food for the outstation umpires,” he added.

Babul Hore, president, DSA, Silchar, the man who made all the necessary arrangements while speaking to Northeast Now, said, “We had a similar seminar for umpires way back in 2007 in Silchar.”

“A grand attempt by SVCC to hold such a magnanimous event is always laudable for which have contributed my part,” he added.

“The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) has approved of conducting this umpires’ seminar cum workshop and I personally have requested ACA’s Hony Secretary, Devajit Saikia to come to Silchar and make this programme a grand success,” said Babul Hore.

Aniruddha Laskar is the Chief of Bureau, South Assam &and Mizoram. He can be reached at - [email protected]