WEST Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) qualified umpire, Guyanese-born Daniel Singh, who was named Emerging Umpire of the Year at the Toronto Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association (TCU&SA) 2024 awards ceremony, told Chronicle Sport that the accolade came as a complete surprise to him.

According to Singh, who also worked as a journalist at the Guyana Chronicle, “in my first year with the TCU&SA in 2023, I was surprised to have been selected to officiate in the national women’s tournament. Then, in 2024, to have been given the award of Emerging Umpire of the Year, was a complete surprise. So, receiving such an award not only gave me a sense of recognition for my efforts, but also reminded me that someone is always watching, even when you don’t think so.”
Singh however pointed out that he remains grateful to the management of the TCU&SA and the experienced umpires who have helped him along the way.

Singh alluded to the fact that as an umpire, one makes a tremendous sacrifice to be away from home all weekend and sometimes late nights on weekdays to officiate in games.
Commenting on his umpiring journey, Singh said is started in 2009 after he decided to cease playing competitive cricket. “Representing the BVI in the now defunct Stanford tournament was perhaps the highlight of my playing days. I progressed to completing the oral and practical exams of the WICUA in 2011, while still living in the BVI.

“However, in the years ensuing, umpiring experience was limited because not much cricket was being played in the BVI and I was always in a full-time job.”
Singh disclosed that after moving to Canada in 2021, he joined the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA) and had the opportunity of officiating in games with very experienced umpires. (Frederick Halley)