Top umpire to quit international cricket for IPL matches?

SYDNEY: The International Cricket Council’s loss could be a gain for the Indian Premier League as the world’s best umpire Simon Taufel may join the BCCI’s multi-million dollar Twenty20 venture after his contract with the ICC expires on March 31.

The Australian, rated the best in the business for the past four years, said he was not certain of renewing his contract.

“After that I am on the open market. I am taking it year by year,” Taufel said.

He said the need to spend time with his family and look for opportunities outside cricket could result in him leaving international umpiring.

“It’s important to spend more time with my family and kids. I am always looking for new opportunities, not necessarily umpiring,” Taufel told ‘The Daily Telegraph.’

Taufel has stood in 49 Tests and 118 One-Day Internationals since starting in 1999.

He is expected to receive an offer to join the lucrative Indian Premier League and did not rule out leaving international cricket and becoming an “IPL specialist.”

“That’s possible but I don’t know what the parameters are yet,” he said.

Umpires are on a retainer and are paid $6,600 per Test and $3,300 per One-Day International.

Taufel will make a final call on his future within a few weeks.

“I am still waiting for an annual performance appraisal with the ICC. Hopefully that will give me a clearer picture,” he said.

If Taufel, 37, turns his back on the international game, it would be a big blow to the game, which has seen several high profile umpiring blunders in recent times.

He feels there is a lot that ICC can do to improve the umpiring standards.

“There is lot of room for improvement with training and support at the ICC level,” Taufel said.

“It’s challenging. The difference between us and the players is we don’t have a home series as such. That makes it harder. There are less opportunities for us.”