Pakistan's cricket authorities have introduced a novel idea of appointing independent observers who will be keeping a watch over the match referee, umpires and players during domestic matches.
Reliable sources in the Pakistan board confirmed to PTI that the cricket committee and Board of Governors had taken the decision to have independent observers for domestic matches.
"Around six former Test and first-class players have been picked for the job and will start their work in the first class domestic season that begins next month," a source said.
He said according to the terms of reference given to the observers, their duties include filing reports on the performances of the match referee and umpires, behaviour of players, ensuring that they were no visitors or guests in dressing rooms nor use of mobile phones or laptops and also to recommend names of any player they thought were good enough to be considered for national selection.
The source said that the observers have also been told to file reports on any bowler they thought had an illegal action or was indulging in ball tampering.
"Some people have questioned the need to have independent observers at matches in the presence of already appointed match referees who are already paid good remunerations for their job," a source said.
He said the board apparently felt the need to have independent observers because of the Saeed Ajmal bowling action controversy.
"The feeling was that some umpires and referees were not doing their jobs properly and not informing the board's cricket committee of ground realities and they also needed to be watched over," another source said.
