Umpires may walk away from game

NIGEL TENCH . . . umpire figures worrying

MORE than a dozen umpires could hang up their whites coats for good at the end of the season.

Of the 46 JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League officials who replied to a questionnaire, 13 said they were considering retiring from the game.

The survey was sent out to gain an indication of where umpires see their futures once the PCL competition ceases in September.

The results were ­-

* 12 indicated they would be joining the Lancashire League's roster in 2018

* 11 the Greater Manchester Cricket League

* four said they were likely to sign up for other competitions

* six were unsure

* 13 intimated they could pack in altogether.

"That is very worrying," said Nigel Tench, chairman of the PCL and a respected umpire.

"It is a mixture of things, including players' behaviour, which are driving away umpires.

"If similar numbers think the same way in leagues across the country, there could be 3,000 fewer umpires next year."

* NORDEN have terminated the contract of professional Naveed Zamurad.

It was claimed he 'tripped' an opponent during the Premiership clash against Walsden at Scott Street.

Zamurad completed his over, but did not bowl again in the match.

The Norden club's general committee met 24 hours later during which they cancelled the Pakistani's contract with immediate effect.

The PCL's disciplinary committee also punished Zamurad with an eight-week ban, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season. He subsequently lost an appeal against the league's action.

Ashton's Siraj Kadodia was suspended for six weeks by the league for 'prodding an opposition player with his bat', while Royton's Liam Brown was handed a two week ban for 'hitting the stumps with his bat'.

* NORDEN will host Tom Hardman Twenty20 Cup finals' day after a draw featuring three of the four semi-finalists.

Moorside, the only Championship outfit left in the competition, declined the chance.

First-out-of-the-hat Norden won the right to stage the event, which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.

The Woodhouse Lane club will play Littleborough in the first game, with Moorside and Rochdale following on.

Times of matches to be advised.

* THE PCL's under-18s take on their GMCL counterparts at Dukinfield on Sunday, August 13 (1.30pm).

* LES Barlow, the Norden secretary, warned players, officials and spectators of visiting clubs not to leave their cars on Woodhouse Lane near the ground as parking fines were being served in that area.

* FINES for the latest batch of missing captains' reports totalled £410.