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| Saturday, 7 February 2004 |
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Venkat rules himself out as Test umpire LONDON, Friday (AFP) India's Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan will stand in his final Test match as an umpire next month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced here Thursday.
Popularly known as Venkat, the former India captain will take his leave of Test cricket after officiating in the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia in Kandy, starting on March 16. In a statement the ICC said Venkat was retiring after informing world cricket's governing body that he no longer wished to be a member of its 11-man elite umpiring panel who between them stand in all Test matches. Paying tribute to the former off-spinner, who made his debut as an umpire in the 1992-93 India v England series, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "Venkat came to umpiring after a terrific career as a player, administrator and media commentator. "He has stood the test of time in an exceptionally demanding profession. He has seen international cricket and international cricket umpiring undergo extraordinary change and has stood up to the scrutiny that now comes with being involved in the game at the elite level. "His integrity and passion for cricket are of the highest order and he has helped ensure that the spirit of the game remains intact for those that will follow." As he moves into the next stage of his career he will be able to reflect on his time as an international umpire with great pride and know that he is respected around the world for his contribution to the game. "On behalf of the international cricket community I would like to thank him for the contribution he has made to cricket." Venkat, 58, will retire after having stood in 75 Tests and 52 One-Day Internationals. He could yet stand in more limited overs internationals if the Indian Board nominated him as one of the two umpires it provided to the ICC's second string umpiring panel. But Venkat has yet to confirm if he wishes to be nominated. Venkat's decision to retire from Test match umpiring will bring down the curtain on an international career stretching back nearly 40 years. He made his Test debut as a 19-year-old against New Zealand in 1964/65 and played the last of his 57 Tests at the age of 38 in 1983/84 against Pakistan, taking 156 wickets at an average of 36.11. He also played in 15 One-Day Internationals. During his career he has also been the India team manager, an India selector, an international match referee, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, a columnist and television commentator. |
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