Indo-Pak matches have always got massive crowds and highest number of spectators. The fan following base is extreme than other matches when the game is between the arch-rivals, India and Pakistan.
Ian Gould, the umpire officiating international matches for years, has opened up on officiating the Indo-Pak matches and has termed it as intimidating.
Ian Gould terms officiating in Indo-Pak matches as “intimidating”
Ian Gould mentioned he has officiated almost seven to eight Indo-Pak matches and the players are appreciative. On the other hand, crowd is the factor that can be the basis for distracting attention.
“It’s intimidating. Not the players. The players are outstanding people. I’ve done seven, eight India-Pakistan games and the guys are really good people. They get on with each other,” he said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
He said if one gives the crowd a chance to interrupt, then you lose your way to grab the attention back as the noises in Indo-Pak matches are at an extreme.
“If you allow a crowd to get to you, all that noise and Mexican waves, or whatever, can distract you. Then you start missing bits and pieces and it’s a difficult place to be,” he added.
Ian retired after the termination of ICC World Cup 2019. He has been an umpire in more than 250 international matches.
Reminding Tendulkar’s incident in World Cup 2011, the umpire still has stuck to his decision and thinks it was out but the DRS system retained his wicket.
However, it is to be noted that Pakistan and India have not featured in any bilateral series since 2011-12 ODI series when India lost. The arch-rivals have faced each other only in the mega-events organized by ICC.
