Late umpire Mishra's family launch award

Dubai: The Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) has instituted an award to honour umpires who have served the game over the years with devotion. The daughters of umpire Prem Mishra instituted the award in memory of their father who passed away in February this year. Mishra was one of the UAE's leading umpires and officiated as the fourth umpire in many international matches in Sharjah.

The DCC picked Ranjith Joshi, who has been officiating in domestic tournaments for the past 35 years, as the first recipient of the award.

Speaking to Gulf News after receiving the award, Joshi said: "I am honoured to receive this award which is instituted in the name of a colleague whom I miss every day at the ground. He was one among us who could always be seen on a cricket ground. To be the first umpire to receive his award is a special feeling."

When Mishra's children approached the DCC wanting to initiate an award in memory of their father, Mohammad Lokhandwala, the secretary of the DCC contacted Tareq Butt, who is the UAE's most experienced umpire and the winner of Shyam Bhatia's Life Time Achievement award for his contribution to the game.

Butt, who represents the umpiring fraternity, advised the DCC that since the award is from an umpire who dedicated his life to umpiring, his award should go to umpires who have served the game by standing under the scorching sun for many years.

Joshi was presented the award and cash prize of Dh1,000 by Mishra's daughters and his son-in-law during a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn to honour the top performers of the DCC's A division tournament on Sunday.

Emotional moment

It was an emotional moment for Mishra's children and even the umpires and players who were present at the ceremony. Mishra, who was a keen student of the game, inspired cricketers to give their best.

Joshi who has officiated in more than 100 matches with Mishra was a fine cricketer during his playing days.

"I used to play for the Bombay Blues in Mumbai and in 1969 after coming to Dubai played for the Indian Sports Club. It was by accident I took up umpiring as one day during a Bohra Muslims Cricket tournament they did not get an umpire. I enjoyed officiating in that event and took up umpiring seriously. Not a single week passes without me officiating in a tournament," said Joshi, who also misses Fareed Malek who passed away last year and was the UAE's first international umpire.

Joshi is now a regular umpire for DCC tournaments and all the tournaments organised by the Seven Seas and Dulsco.

Lokhandwala welcomed the gesture from Mishra's family and said: "Umpires are great lovers of the game and the sport need umpires like Mishra. This will be an apt award for the umpiring fraternity here."

Mishra's family announced that this award for the umpires, who have dedicated their lives for the game, will be presented every year.