Daily Times

Taufel visit to Pakistan while the PSL series is going on is a good step towards promotion of Pakistan’s soft image around the globe

Simon Taufelis a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year and was a part of the ICC elite panel of umpires. He retired in 2012. Later, he started working as ICC’s Umpire Performance and Training Manager and remained in that role until September 2016. He now lives in his hometown in New South Wales and travels the world to speak at business institutions and train executives in leadership values and integrity.

On his first visit to Pakistan after 11 years Taufel watched thePSL 5 opening ceremony in Karachi. Taufel visit to Pakistan while the PSL series is going on is a good step towards promotionof Pakistan’ssoft image around the globe. Together with Pakistani cricketers, he visited famous public places and interacted with fans. Inspector General of Sindh Police Imam Kaleem hosted a dinner in the honour of distinguished guests, including SimonTaufel, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Barry Wilkinson and Dr Kashif Ansari.

Taufel launched his book, Finding the Gaps,after a stellar career in umpiring, coaching, training and administration. His book teaches ways of sharing those lessons and transferable soft skills that can be applied to anyone or any vocation.

Muneezay Moeen conversed with Simon Taufel about his visit to Pakistan:

MM: In your book, Finding the Gaps, the tragedyof the attack on the Sri Lankan national team in Lahore is the first chapter. Why?

ST: The Lahore story is the first one in my book because it is a human interest story. I wanted to show everyone that umpires/match officials are people too. We have the same feelings, desires, fear, anxiety and human traits as everyone else. Quite often, others expect umpires to be superhuman and never make a mistake; this is not the case. For me, I rarely showed emotion on the field and on this occasion, I was quite the opposite. I wanted to share that humanity with everyone.

MM: How did March 3 incident changed your life?

ST: March 3, 2009 changed my life and that of my family. We looked at life in a different way. That day I got a second chance and vowed not to sweat the small stuff and appreciate every day a little more. For my family and me, it showed how things can change in an instant and how we should not take today or tomorrow for granted. We need to make the days count, not count the days.

MM: The security risk to have a match in Lahore was already there in 2009. Did the guest management not resist the idea?

ST: There was a discussion and possible plan for us to play the next Test match in Karachiafter the one that just finished there, but that was not our decision. We play where we are told to, and we place a lot of trust in the administrators accordingly.

MM: What are the traits of a successful umpire?

ST: The successful traits to be a good umpire, or to be a good teacher, businessperson, parent, coach, hospitality worker or student, are contained in my book, Finding the Gaps. If you are asking me what advice I would give to any person aspiring to be a good umpire, or be the best you can be, I would say: be yourself; don’t try to be someone else, they are already taken. Be genuine and true to your feelings. Be authentic and say and do what you mean. Don’t pretend. Be brutally honest with yourself.Consider your options; stop and think before you do something. Consider the facts, alternatives and consequences. Ask yourself: what does the “game” expect? What happens if I do nothing here? Think strategically and rationally.Commit – when you decide to do something, commit fully. Work very hard and don’t take any shortcuts. The harder you work, the luckier you will get.

MM: You have mentioned in chapter one of your book that you are very protective of your umpiring hat, more than life!

ST: I look after my umpiring tools and work tools with much attention; they are special to me. They are my livelihood. So, on that day at the Liberty Roundabout in Lahore, I got down low in the bus from the bullets hitting the car, but not so low as to crush my umpire hat. It’s strange I know but I am very protective of my tools of the trade and they are hard to replace. I suppose it’s like a batsman who has a favourite bat; most top batsmen I know will leave all their kit at the ground overnight but will take their bat home to the hotel.

MM: How different do you see Pakistan in 2009 and 2019 in from the perspective of cricket?

ST: I only saw Karachi, nearly 11 years apart, not all of Pakistan. But what I saw in Karachi was normal. People were going about their normal routines and lives. The feeling in the city was one of excitement and passion around the PSL. People were relaxed, friendly, hospitable and happy. We were looked after very well during my recent visit, and I’m very grateful to the people of Karachi for that.

MM: What motivated you to come to Pakistan after 11 years? How would you define the love you get from Pakistanis?

ST: My motivation to return to Pakistan after 11 years was to support two good causes: to support the development of the game here and the Omair Sana Foundation. I also felt that I needed to return to exorcise those sad feelings [that I had] when I left [last time].And to relive a few friendships and positivity of people. My family was very generous and supportive of my decision, and I’m grateful for the trust that they put in me and Dr Kashif Ansari.

MM: You donated blood to thalassemia patients in Karachi. What motivated you?

ST: Yes, I gave blood. While sitting there in the press conference to promote the work of the Omair Sana Foundation, I thought to myself how can I ask others to give blood, if I’m not going to do it myself? Leadership today is about integrity, acting consistently with your values and beliefs. For me to speak and lead with integrity, giving blood was necessary. Leading by serving and giving something to others and helping others be the best they can be. I needed to lead by example and show others that it is not difficult or hard. If I can do itso can they.

My management and leadership style in my previous careeras an operations manager in a printing company and with the umpires at the ICC and cricket Australia was that I would not ask them to do anything that I was not prepared to do myself.

MM:You made tea at a Pakistani dhabba, any remarks?

ST: Chai in Pakistan is bahut acha (very good)!

The writer is a human rights activist, a blogger