The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Reporter

The Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires are on the road seven to eight months of a year on an average. This is because of the busy international cricket schedule-both test and ODI matches.

Most of the 12-member Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, most of the time cannot stay with the family on their birthdays.

This happened on Thursday, 23 October, 2008 to Daryl Harper of Australia. He turned 58 on that day.

It was Hanif Zakaria, Manager Emirates for Bangladesh who arranged birthday cake and private birthday party at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel to celebrate the occasion. By doing that Hanif surprised Daryl Harper.

Harper disclosed that in past eight years he could stay with his family in Australia only once-in the year 2000.

On behalf of Emirates, Hanif also handed over gifts to both Harper and De Silva. Daryl Harper of Australia and Asoka De Silva of Sri Lanka are in Dhaka to stand in 2nd test between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

One of the senior members of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, Daryl Harper made his debut as a first class umpire in 1987/88 and rose to national selection in the 1993/94 season. A member of the panel since 2002, Harper has umpired 74 test matches.

A former internaitonal cricketer Asoka De Silva played 10 Tests and 28 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1985/86 and 1990/91, He stood in his first Test in 1999 and has since umpired 34.

However, Emirates Elite Panel of Umpires are not totally detached or isolated from the family while they are on the job in different parts of the world. Courtesy Emirates Airlines, at least once a year their families can travel with them.

Both Harper and De Silva disclosed that they have utilized that opportunity and their wives and sometimes children do join them in tours. And that helps them from isolation to a great extent.

The Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires are also to tackle various time zones, climatic conditions, cultural and food habits in performing their jobs as per ICC international calendar. These kinds of change in conditions no more bother them, they confide.

Daryl Harper and Asoka De Silva are members of Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, sponsored by Emirates Airlines-an official ICC partner.