Umpire doesn't turn up after Police player threat

The two-day Kanga League Police Shield ('A' Division) tie between hosts Parsee Gymkhana and Mumbai Police SC was marred by controversy after one of the two on-field umpires failed to turn up on Sunday. Chandrashekhar Mase, a BCCI panel umpire, opted out due to personal reasons. However, it is understood that he pulled out after being "threatened" by a Mumbai Police SC player.

"There was an argument between the umpires and the Police team after Saturday'splay. Then, Police player Rajesh Tandel, who leads the iconic Dadar Union side, confronted the umpire. He then threatened the official that he "will see to it that you don't get to stand in any MCA matches".

Parsee Gymkhana vice-president and cricket secretary Khodadad Yazdegardi threw light on the incident. "The umpire did not turn up on Sunday. There was some issue between the players on Saturday. Tandel did not have any business to interfere in the matter. If our policemen behave like this, then how will we feel safe as citizens. I reported the matter to a few Mumbai Cricket Association officials, who asked me to register a complaint. There were Kanga League observers (at the venue), and the Police players could have gone to them instead of confronting the umpire," he said.

Meanwhile, an MCA official said the situation could have been handled better by the umpire. "The umpire has all the right to ban a player or his team. Being a BCCI panel umpire, he should have handled the matter in a better way. These things happen. The MCA does not have control over each and every player. This was a club-level match. It is not a serious matter," said the official.

After the umpire did not turn up, the MCA replaced Mase with another umpire.