'You had people with machine guns guarding you': India-Pakistan matches came with 'added scrutiny', says Simon Taufel

Umpiring matches between India and Pakistan always meant working under more scrutiny than would be usual, former umpire Simon Taufel has said.

Matches between India and Pakistan are events unto itself and tend to be standouts in the careers of all those involved in them. This includes the umpires who have the unenviable task of handing out decisions that could anger one of the two sets of fans. Former umpire Simon Taufel said that the matches tended to come with added scrutiny due to the expectations riding on them and the amount of analysis that comes with them.

Shoaib Akhtar and Virender Sehwag

"The India-Pakistan clashes came with added scrutiny and expectations because the game is being analysed by all the armchair experts,” Taufel told Cricket Pakistan.

Taufel had officiated during India's tour of Pakistan in 2004. The tour consisted of a three-match Test series and a five-match ODI series. India won both, winning the Test series 2-1 and ODI series 3-2.

Taufel said that the added security that came in the matches and around those involved in the series only added to the spectacle.

“You had people with machine guns guarding you and presidential-level security was assigned to the teams. You have to remain grounded as I tried my level-best to focus on the task ahead and take things one ball at a time,” Simon stated.