Kantilal Kanjee
Encyclopedia
Kantilal Kanjee is a Zimbabwe
an former first-class
and Test cricket
umpire
.
Kanjee was born in Salisbury (now Harare
) and is of Asian descent. He umpired first-class matches in Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe
) from 1972. At the time, Rhodesian teams took part in the South African domestic first-class competition, the Currie Cup
. He became the first non-white umpire to stand in a first-class match in South Africa
in January 1975, when Western Province
played Transvaal
at Newlands
, Cape Town
, in the 1974/75 Currie Cup.
He umpired four Test matches between 1992 and 1994, all played in Zimbabwe. He made his debut as a Test umpire in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test, the single Test against India in Harare in October 1992. Kanjee also stood in the two back-to-back Tests against New Zealand the following month. An experimental umpiring system was used in these three Tests, in which Dicky Bird umpired from one end, and Kanjee shared the umpiring duties at the other end, swapping each day with a second senior Zimbabwean umpire, Ian Robinson
. In another experiment, the 2nd Test against New Zealand was interrupted by a One-day International
held on 8 November 1992, between the first and second days of the Test. These experiments were not a success and were not repeated. Kanjee was included in the ICC's first original panel of International Panel of Umpires and Referees
in 1994, and umpired his last Test in October 1994, the 3rd Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in Harare.
He also umpired ten One-day Internationals between 1992 and 1994, four in Zimbabwe and six in the Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup in Sharjah
in 1994.
He continued to umpire first-class and List A matches until 1999.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an former first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
and Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
.
Kanjee was born in Salisbury (now Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
) and is of Asian descent. He umpired first-class matches in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(now Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) from 1972. At the time, Rhodesian teams took part in the South African domestic first-class competition, the Currie Cup
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
. He became the first non-white umpire to stand in a first-class match in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in January 1975, when Western Province
Western Province cricket team
Western Province cricket team is the team representing Western Cape province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa. The team began playing in January 1890 and its main venue has always been Newlands in Cape Town.-Honours:...
played Transvaal
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
at Newlands
Newlands Cricket Ground
Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is a South African cricket ground. It's the home of the Cape Cobras, who play in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Pro20 competitions. It is also a venue for Test matches. Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket...
, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, in the 1974/75 Currie Cup.
He umpired four Test matches between 1992 and 1994, all played in Zimbabwe. He made his debut as a Test umpire in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test, the single Test against India in Harare in October 1992. Kanjee also stood in the two back-to-back Tests against New Zealand the following month. An experimental umpiring system was used in these three Tests, in which Dicky Bird umpired from one end, and Kanjee shared the umpiring duties at the other end, swapping each day with a second senior Zimbabwean umpire, Ian Robinson
Ian Robinson (cricket umpire)
Ian David Robinson , in Oxford, England, was a Zimbabwean cricket umpire who officiated in 28 Test Matches and 90 One Day Internationals. He had made his umpiring debut in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test, against India at Harare in 1992...
. In another experiment, the 2nd Test against New Zealand was interrupted by a One-day International
One-day International
A One Day International is a form of limited overs cricket, in which a fixed number of overs, usually 50, but in the past 40, 45 or 60 overs, are played between two teams with international status. The Cricket World Cup is played in this format...
held on 8 November 1992, between the first and second days of the Test. These experiments were not a success and were not repeated. Kanjee was included in the ICC's first original panel of International Panel of Umpires and Referees
International Panel of Umpires and Referees
The International Panel of ICC Umpires was established by the ICC in 1994 following trial in 1992/3, to ensure that one neutral umpire would stand in every Test match. It is made up of officials nominated from each of the ten Test playing cricket boards...
in 1994, and umpired his last Test in October 1994, the 3rd Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in Harare.
He also umpired ten One-day Internationals between 1992 and 1994, four in Zimbabwe and six in the Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup in Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
in 1994.
He continued to umpire first-class and List A matches until 1999.