Umpire Maulik Prabhudesai out to learn in Cape Town

I was informed of the opportunity by Adriaan van den Dries, towards the end of the 2024 cricket season. Preparations started soon after the end of the season, dates were finalised, and I landed in Cape Town on January 5, 2025.”

“I was picked up by two umpires from WPCUA at the airport and taken straight to Newlands, where South Africa were playing Pakistan for the second test of the tour. So, I immediately started with the reason I was in CPT for – cricket! WPCUA has a viewer’s box in Newlands, and I could see the action from the box and get to meet many fellow WPCUA umpires. Later, I checked in a BnB run by a former club cricketer Allison Johnson who is also a coach of a premier division (Topklasse equivalent of Western Province) club – who was kind enough to invite me to his Braai and talk cricket with me.”

“After taking a day to acclimatise, I started with three back-to-back school games, out of which one was a time game. It was my first time game, and the experience was so good, that I would recommend every umpire in the Netherlands to stand in a time game whenever he/she gets the opportunity to do so. The depth and quality of school cricket in SA was eye opening and I would not be surprised if a couple of the players I umpired in the school games, turn out to be future greats for SA.”

“After a day of rest, I did a men’s premier league game – which is one level below representative cricket here, therefore a very serious level of cricket and a women’s premier league game the day after. Both of my colleagues on the day brought with them a serious level of experience, and I had a great time working with them, enjoying the cricket.”

“After doing five games in six days, recovery was needed, and the next two days were spent relaxing, catching scenic views of the ocean around the Cape of Good Hope, and equally beautiful mountains and vineyards further up the country in Stellenbosch, the latter thanks to Adriaan van den Dries who made sure that I would not go back without sampling some quality food and wine. As I write this, I have just come back from standing in a veteran’s (aged 40 and above) T20 game.”

“Next up, I got the opportunity to shadow the PCT (playing control team) for a Youth ODI between SA U19 and England U19 Lions which I cannot wait to go to. Two back-to-back premier league games on Saturday and Sunday will cap my tour off.”

“In between all of this, I moved out of the BnB and stayed with Clifford Isaacs, a very experienced first-class umpire and a CSA panel match referee, who hosted me, talked cricket with me and took me to a small tour of Cape Town, and Jason Harrison, another umpire who made sure I did not miss home thousands of miles away in Cape Town.

As I go back, I thank the KNCB, Adriaan van den Dries, Tom Mokorosi, my hosts in CPT, AJ, Cliffie, Jason, Sue and Mike, and all the other people who made my exchange to Cape Town memorable for me.”

Would you like to umpire criket matches in The Netherlands as well? Please visit: Umpires Cursussen