By Bipin Dani
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| Daryl Harper finds it "Impossible" for cricket umpire to fix matches |
MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT) October 15, 2012: Former ICC umpire, Darrell Hair was not surprised with the recent allegations of fixing against match umpires. However, according to another retired ICC umpire, Daryl Harper, the result of the match can’t be fixed in normal circumstances.
Speaking exclusively with TheSportsNEXT.com from Adelaide on Monday, Daryl Harper said, "I don't believe that it would be possible for umpires to fix the result of a match without drawing attention to themselves. A series of poor decisions would be likely to attract attention and may lead to an umpire's demotion".
Adding further, he said, "However I do think that it would be possible to give marginal decisions in favour of one particular team. Often with an LBW appeal, an umpire has an element of doubt in his mind and in such a case, he usually gives the batsman the benefit of his doubt".
"I imagine that if an individual umpire was tempted by money or other benefits, to officiate against the spirit of the game and against what we know is right, then decisions in favour of one team would be possible", he believed.
"I officiated at the international level from 1994 until 2011 and I was never approached to perform in any way for anyone's benefit. I actually found that the principle of treating every player with the same even handed approach was the only way I could umpire. It was so difficult trying to get every decision correct, I can't imagine how an umpire could deliberately favour anyone", the 61-year-old Australian signed off.
