Saturday, Apr 20, 2024 | Last Update : 09:29 AM IST
Climbing up trees in search of mobile network: Cricket umpire Anil Chaudhary
Went to visit his ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary got stranded due to national lockdown
New Delhi: Stranded in his ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh due to the nationwide lockdown, ICC international panel umpire Anil Chaudhary is grappling with a communication nightmare and says he has to climb up trees in search of mobile network.
Chaudhary, who has officiated in 20 ODIs and and 27 T20s, was supposed to officiate in the India-South Africa ODI series which was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The 55-year-old then decided to visit his village, Dangrol in UP's Shamli district, with his two sons.
"I'm here with my sons since March 16. Since I was visiting after quite some time I planned to stay for a week but then the lockdown was announced and now I'm following the directives, while my mother and wife are in Delhi," Chaudhary told 'PTI-Bhasha'.
"The biggest problem is mobile connectivity. I can't talk to anyone or use the internet. To be able to do that I have to go outside the village, climb up a tree or go to the rooftop. Then also the network is very poor," he said.
The umpire has also posted a few pictures of himself, trying to make a phone call while atop a tree, on social media.
Chaudhary said he needs internet to access ICC's online programmes for umpires.
Besides, his son's studies are also affected as several educational institutes have resorted to online classes to finish the curriculum.
"One of my sons’ studies in the Hindu College. His classes are going on but he is unable to attend them."
Chaudhary says the mobile network problem is not a new issue. The village has been grappling with it for the past one year despite being less than 100km from Delhi.
According to Chaudhary, the village chief has written a letter to the district in-charge about the matter. "We sent a letter 10 days ago but we are yet to receive an answer," he said.
Meanwhile, Chaudhary has taken the opportunity to educate people around him, explaining the concept of social-distancing and spreading awareness regarding the disease.
"I have asked people here not to gather around, avoid playing cards together, continuously wash their hands with soap.
"I have also distributed some masks to them and all of them are maintaining social distancing."
