Cricketers told ‘speak English’

Umpires have been stumped by foreign talk

MULTI-LINGUAL cricketers have been ordered to speak English — so umpires know exactly what they’re saying.

The Central Lancashire League (CLL) has brought in a new rule for next season that players must speak only English during matches.

Officials say there have been increasing incidents where players have communicated in a foreign tongue causing confusion.

But both players and officials say they are not aware of any situations where an umpire had been verbally abused in a foreign language.

CLL chairman Neville Fletcher said: “It’s something that’s been noticed over the last couple of seasons. There’s been nothing of too serious a nature but there has been a couple of minor incidents where the situation would have been helped if the respected parties had been speaking English.

“It could have led to a misunderstanding without people seeking clarification at the comments passed.

“If for example you get a situation, that can happen, between two people of a similar ethnicity then the official on the field might not have any idea what’s being said.

“It’s a request from both players and umpires to clarify matters.

“It’s being incorporated into league rules after being passed at a league meeting.”

Asked how it will be enforced, he said: “We will just quite simply say ‘will you please speak English’. Once players are aware of it I’m sure they will adhere to it.”

He added that people will quickly pick up the rule, which he believes is used in other leagues, and he didn’t expect it to cause any problems.

Local cricket teams said they had no problem with the new rule.

A spokesman for Royton Cricket Club said he was surprised though as it had not been an issue.

Crompton Cricket Club captain Carl Taylor said: “I can understand why it’s been brought in. There were incidents last season where there have been some Asian lads speaking Urdu and we haven’t been able to understand it and it’s caused friction with opposition teams.

“They might say that’s their language and it’s a free country so why can’t they speak it. But everyone should be able to understand what they are saying.

“There’s three lads in our team who sometimes in the changing room speak in Urdu to each other but that’s a private conversation. They normally speak English on the pitch. I always tend to tell our lads to speak English on the field where possible.”