18-Sep-2008 103
Arun Kumar Basa of Orissa has secured the first position in the all-India Ranji panel umpires`` examination conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at Mohali, Chandigarh earlier on September 5.
According to Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) sources today, Basa secured 98 out of 100 marks, while competing in the non-players`` category, which featured a total of 80 candidates.
Basa, 40, left for Chennai on Thursday to face the practical test to be held there on September 21 and 22. He hoped to do as well in the practical and become a qualified Ranji panel umpire.
A state panel umpire since 1996, Basa has so far officiated over 300 inter-district matches conducted by OCA. He also served as a match referee in the semifinal and final matches of the all-India under-22 cricket tournament at Cuttack in 2004.
Basa, who hails from Sambalpur, also played the game at the club, district and university level during his younger days. His biggest achievement as a player came when he led Sambalpur University in 1988.
A post graduate in science, Basa is currently working as a computer programmer in Sambalpur University and pursuing doctoral study in management.
