Relieved that Steve Bucknor would not officiate in the Perth Test against Australia, former India players on Tuesday called for the outright removal of the controversial umpire from the ICC Elite Panel.
Most of the former players asked ICC to consider an age limit for the umpires and felt getting Bucknor ousted from the Perth Test was a moral victory for India.
"ICC has done a pretty good job. I don't think Bucknor will ever get an opportunity to stand in Tests. There is a process and he will be demoted," former captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi said.
"Bucknor also might be somewhat relieved. Should a 61-year old stand as umpire? ICC will have to look at it carefully. There is shortage of umpires and bad decisions will be given by everybody," he said.
Asked whether there was a need to review the process of recruiting umpires for the Elite Panel, Pataudi said no process could be fool-proof.
"You will always find people not fit for the job finding a way into the Elite Panel. There will be incidents like this but it has to be dealt with strongly," Pataudi said.
{{/usCountry}}"You will always find people not fit for the job finding a way into the Elite Panel. There will be incidents like this but it has to be dealt with strongly," Pataudi said.
{{/usCountry}}Legendary spinner E Prasanna felt Bucknor should opt out before he is thrown out of the panel.
"Yes, he should think of resigning. He should assess whether he is good enough to officiate in international matches." Prasanna said.