Hong Kong Umpires and Scorers Club Together

19 aspiring umpires and eight scorers received some rigorous training in Hong Kong over the Chinese New Year period, with the ACC Umpiring Resource Person Bomi Jamula and and the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (ACU&S) Trainer Ian Thomson directing traffic. Following the Level I Umpires Program, a course for novice scorers was conducted by Hong Kong resident Atif Hussain, a graduate of the Linear Scoring Course conducted in Nepal in September, who also acted as a scorer during the ACC Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup in China last November.

The Level I umpire candidates went through four days of intensive classroom and on-field study by standing in a practise match. Bomi Jamula reports that "the 20-overs match, which featured members of the Hong Kong national squad, also served as a practical test for the eight scorers." During the field assessment the umpires were also made to score. "It's important that umpires and scorers understand how to work together as they are very much a team at all levels of cricket," says ACC Development Manager Bandula Warnapura, "I am very encouraged by the number and background of candidates coming forward, it shows that there is a fair amount of cricket activity in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong currently has four certified and active Level I Umpires. The ACC is gradually moving towards a linear scoring program for its tournaments, though novices are still being tutored in the traditional box method.

The Hong Kong Cricket Association further report that, "supported by the Hongkong Bank Foundation Continuing Coach Education Programme, a Level 0 Cricket Coaching Course is being organised for all university students in order to provide basic skills and knowledge to those who would like to coach cricket in school teams or other beginner level cricket."