The Malian Cricket federation recently completed a five-day umpire training course. A total of 38 people attended the theory sessions during the course, covering the principle laws of the game and important variations in the rules e.g. Powerplays. The participants included representatives from the regional leagues in Segou and Sikasso as well as most of the Bamako-based clubs, and included five women. After the theory and practical sessions came the tests; six people succeeded in passing the level 2 test, 12 passed the level I test and eight others were considered to have reached the Assistant Umpire standard.