Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Cricket Umpires' Association (JCUA), Norman Malcolm, yesterday dismissed rumours that his association faced increasing pressure to pull Maurice Chung from officiating in tomorrow's Capital & Credit final between Kensington and Melbourne at Chedwin Park.

Information reaching The Gleaner is that the JCUA received numerous telephone calls objecting to Chung, a former player and member of Kensington, doing duty in the final.

However, Malcolm said that was "not true".

"We did not get a complaint from Melbourne, nor nobody," he said. "Concerns were raised by persons in the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) to remind us what is done regionally and internationally," he said.

In recent years, the ICC has implemented a new system which prevents umpires from officiating in Test matches which involve their countries.

"We are making appointments in keeping with what is done regionally and internationally … to that we recognised Mr. Chung as a former player of Kensington and did not meet those requirements," he said. "We did not want a conflict of interest."

The two clubs booked their places in the final after scoring impressive victories. Melbourne defeated St. Elizabeth by 131 runs while Kensington surprised league and Challenge champions St. Catherine by seven wickets.

But as to why Chung was assigned to stand in the final with the JCUA's vice president, Vivian Johnson, remains the big question.

"The appointment was made before the finalists were decided, which was wrong," explained Malcolm.

"If we had known Kensington would be in the final, we would not appoint him," said Malcolm. "When we found out who was in the final, I asked the vice president to use someone else … Melbourne did not complain," he said.