17 April,2011 07:07 AM IST | | Lhendup G Bhutia
While cricket aficionados are fixated on becoming or finding the next Sachin Tendulkar, here's a chance to become the next Dickie Bird
Like most Sundays in summer, Shambaji Park in Mulund (E) turns into a mini-cricket field. But while everyone else will either practice batting or balling, Dr Prakash Vaze will lead a motley group of men at umpiring.u00a0
The general physician has, for the last 14 years, been holding classes for those interested in becoming cricket umpires.
Dr Prakash Vaze has been holding classes in umpiring for 14 years .
Pic/Sameer Markande
"People want to pursue this full-time profession or just try it for fun," he says, pointing out that five of his students have gone on to be awarded gold medals at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Umpires' Examination.
Dr Vaze himself is a gold medallist. In fact, before he became an umpire, he used to play cricket, and has played with former India cricketers Sandeep Patil and Dilip Vengsarkar at Shivaji Park when they were kids.
But while others concentrated on their game, Dr Vaze shifted focus to medicine. "When I was in medical school and we had inter-college matches, there were no quality umpires. On a lark, I tried it out."
Not only did he get through the examination, he was also awarded a gold medal. From then on, Dr Vaze has been living a dual life, that of a general physician and also an umpire. His classes, which begin today, are free of charge and continue till June 15.
Other than him, former Test umpire Pilloo Reporter, former First Class umpire GK Raman and all-India panel and international umpire MR Singh will also hold classes. After teaching the game rules in his dispensary, the class will shift to the nearby field for practicals.
Dr Vaze believes there are many opportunities for umpires. "If one breaks into the international arena, there is nothing like it. Apart from that, there are lucrative avenues like the Indian Premier League nowadays," he says.
You know he's right when you hear that he made Rs 30 a day for officiating a local match back in 1987, while now the amount has risen to Rs 350.
At: 1pm, Dr Prakash Vaze's Dispensary, A-1, Swapnil (Pradhan Building), GV Scheme Road No 2, Near Ruchi Hotel, next to Shrikrishna Dairy, Mulund (E)u00a0 Call: 9821031006u00a0
