WEST Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA)-certified umpire Daniel Singh is of the view that to become a complete player, one must know the laws of cricket.
According to Singh, “In my experience, many unpleasant situations could have been avoided, if the players involved in the game were familiar with the laws of the game and the playing conditions.”

The Guyana-born Singh, who also served at the Guyana Chronicle as a journalist, made the remarks at the York Regional Cricket Association (YRCA) 2024 Awards Ceremony, held at Chauhan’s Fine Indian Cuisine & Banquet Hall, Markham, Ontario, Canada.
According to Singh, “There are many occasions when matches have been lost due to the lack of knowledge about the laws of cricket, and lack of awareness about the playing conditions by the captain and the players.”

Singh, however, conceded that “mistakes are part of the game by players and umpires. But umpires are seldom forgiven”.
Touching on the Laws of Cricket for Players, Singh explained that to sustain the spectator’s interest in this traditional English game, the laws of the game undergo changes from time to time.

“Though each player has to be abreast with the latest laws of the game, there are many occasions when matches are lost due to a lack of familiarity with the laws and the playing conditions for that particular tournament.”
Singh pointed out that “the differences between the laws and playing conditions must be known, example the runout rule with the batter leaving their crease early. Although a player need not know the laws as thoroughly as an umpire, this is desirable”.

Singh admitted that it is not easy to understand some of the difficult laws and many players do not even bother about the laws and playing conditions.
He referred to examples: Helmet rule, hit wicket rule, contact with a fielder and boundary while taking a catch, batter retiring, fielder serving penalty time. “It is not easy to understand the difficult laws, and players do not need to know the laws in the manner in whish an umpire is trained,” he said.

Singh congratulated the winning teams and players who were recognised for their outstanding performances during the 2024 season, and wished them the best for the 2025 season. He also praised the YRCA Management Team on a very efficiently executed tournament.

Singh, who officiated in the British Virgin Islands before migrating to Canada, spoke about two colleagues in the umpiring fraternity who have “a profound impact on my own umpiring development since moving to Canada 3-4 years ago – Jack Maharaj, at the time at BEDCL, when I did my first game and Matthew Francis of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA).”

Singh alluded to the fact that he has been part of YRCA tournament for the first time, and “I can testify it is a very smooth and efficient one”. (Frederick Halley)