Australian umpire Ben Treloar will officiate in two Ranji Trophy matches in India under an exchange programme between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket Australia. As part of the reciprocal arrangement, Indian umpire Parashar Joshi will travel to Australia to officiate in two Sheffield Shield matches and one One Day Cup fixture.
Treloar will begin his Indian assignment with Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat, scheduled from October 18 to 21. He will then oversee Mumbai’s encounter against Haryana from October 26 to 29.
The Australian umpire has extensive domestic experience, having officiated in 30 first-class matches, 20 List A games and 39 Big Bash League fixtures. His experience also includes two women’s One Day Internationals and four women’s T20 Internationals.
Alongside his on-field responsibilities, Treloar works as Cricket New South Wales’ Umpire Education Officer, helping train and develop emerging match officials. His contribution to umpire education has earned him four George Borwick Memorial Awards from the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.
Joshi, meanwhile, will start his Australian assignment with Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the Gabba, scheduled from November 11 to 14. He will return to the same venue for the teams’ One Day Cup fixture on November 16 before officiating in the Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales and Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground from November 22 to 25.
Joshi has officiated in 19 first-class matches, 32 List A games and 40 T20 fixtures in India. His experience includes matches in the Indian Premier League and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
2016: WHEN AN AUSTRALIAN UMPIRE FELL ILL
The exchange programme has previously faced an unexpected disruption. In November 2016, Australian umpire Sam Nogajski was hospitalised during his first Ranji Trophy assignment after falling ill on the morning of the second day of the Uttar Pradesh versus Mumbai match in Mysuru.
Nogajski experienced stomach pain and loose motions and was admitted to a local hospital early that morning. Doctors reportedly diagnosed dehydration and advised him to rest, forcing him to withdraw from the remainder of the match.
With Nogajski unavailable, Indian umpire Virender Sharma had to officiate from both ends. Although reserve umpire Vejith D was present, he was not part of the BCCI’s umpiring panel and could therefore serve only as the square-leg official.
Match authorities subsequently looked for a replacement to cover Nogajski’s duties for the rest of the fixture.
The incident was an unusual interruption to an exchange programme intended to give officials experience in different domestic cricket environments. Treloar’s upcoming assignments will bring another Australian umpire into the Ranji Trophy, while Joshi will get the opportunity to officiate in Australia’s domestic competitions.
