Three umpires of Indian heritage have been selected by New Zealand Cricket to participate in its key female umpire programme.
The current intake features Marise-Ann Fernandes from Auckland, Vibhuti Patel from Canterbury and Amruta Bhosale from Wellington.
Launched in the 2021/2022 season, the umpire programme aims to offer growth opportunities to female umpires, with the objective of bridging the gap between community cricket appointments and domestic cricket appointments.
Marise-Ann Fernandes, originally from Mumbai, India, is among the selected umpires.
"Cricket is in our blood as Indians," Fernandes says.
Fernandes relocated to New Zealand in 2002 and now works for ASB.
Her deep-seated passion for cricket blossomed when her son began playing the game.
Her involvement started with assisting teams in scoring, and she subsequently ventured further into her cricket journey by playing the sport in Auckland.
"Two years ago, Auckland Cricket Association contacted me about the programme, and I immediately accepted it, Fernandes says.
Vibhuti Patel, originally from Gujarat, India, is a mother and a community pharmacist in Rangiora. Photo: Supplied
Vibhuti Patel, originally from Gujarat, India, is a mother and a community pharmacist in Rangiora. Like Fernandes, Patel also grew up with cricket as an integral part of her life.
"My dad was a player, so we watched cricket all the time," Patel says.
She admits, however, that her passion for cricket waned over the years as she became busy with studies, her career and family.
It was only when she moved to New Zealand in 2008 that she felt the desire to reintroduce cricket into her life.
"My first challenge was the high cost of watching cricket in New Zealand," she says. "It's quite expensive."
However, cricket found its way back into Patel's life, just as it did for Fernandes, when her son developed an interest in the sport.
She saw her son's budding enthusiasm and decided to get involved herself, and the solution was just a Google search away.
After umpiring for a while, Patel got in touch with NZ Cricket and, three months later, secured a spot in the umpire program.
Bridging the gap
Eugene Sanders is NZ Cricket's community umpire manager. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2021 www.photosport.nz
"Sport New Zealand recognized the need to enhance female leadership in sports, and they introduced two development programs for coaching and umpiring," says Eugene Sanders, NZ Cricket's community umpire manager.
Sanders says the program's goal is to create opportunities for female community umpires and to enhance their skills through mentoring and training.
He notes that the only prerequisite for the program is that candidates must have been umpiring for at least a year to ensure they can adapt and improve effectively.
"This comprehensive eight-month program provides aspiring umpires with the chance to serve as reserve umpires for one-day domestic fixtures," he says.
"Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to connect with a female umpire network and undergo training led by industry professionals," he says.
Sanders also mentions that candidates are encouraged to re-join the program if they wish and can even offer mentorship within the program after completing their training.
Year three of the program has several new additions, Sanders says.
"Umpires will have the opportunity to participate in a two-day residential program in Lincoln, where they can learn from a national panel of experienced umpires," he says.
Additionally, they will receive local observations within their associations, providing valuable feedback to aid in their development.
Amruta Bhosale (middle) is a former cricket player from Mumbai, India. Photo: Supplied
A new calling
Amruta Bhosale is a former cricket player from Mumbai, India.
Born in India to a cricket family, Amruta was never away from the pitch.
After playing for 11 years in India, Bhosale relocated to New Zealand in 2014, where she pursued a career in baking.
She now manages New World Thorndon's bakery in Wellington.
While she still enjoys baking, Bhosale's passion for cricket remained undiminished. Shortly after arriving in New Zealand, she played for the Wellington Blaze for a year as an overseas player.
"I was on a visa, so I couldn't play for an extended period," she says.
Bhosale was determined to continue her cricket journey and eventually learned about the umpire program.
She began her umpiring journey four years ago and describes it as an incredible experience. However, she acknowledges that umpiring presents its own set of challenges.
"You have to remain highly focused and alert for extended periods," she says. "You spend eight hours on the field, and so much can happen in the course of 600 balls."
Despite the challenges, Bhosale finds umpiring to be an immensely rewarding experience, particularly when officiating men's games.
"It's a gentleman's game," she says. "I appreciate it when players show respect."
For Patel, umpiring men's games remains a challenge.
"I feel that male players may not yet be fully receptive to a colored woman umpire," she says.
However, this doesn't deter Patel in the slightest. She says the more she officiates on the field, the deeper her love of the sport and umpiring grows.
Like Bhosale, Patel and Fernandes are enthusiastic about their experiences, serving as encouraging examples for others who may be interested in pursuing umpiring.
Fernandes offers this advice: "If you're a woman who loves cricket, regardless of your age, get involved."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/indonz/499255/three-indian-umpires-selected-in-nz-cricket-s-development-programme