Dharmasena promoted to Elite Umpires Panel

Chris Dhambarage

Former Sri Lanka off spinner Kumar Dharmasena was yesterday promoted to the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC umpires following the annual review and selection process conducted by the International Cricket Council.

Forty year old Dharmasena along with England’s Richard Kettleborough have been promoted to the top level by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel. The two umpires will replace Daryl Harper, whose existing contract expires in July, and Asoka de Silva on the panel.

“Their promotions are a result of hard work and impressive performances and will act as an inspiration to other umpires,” said David Richardson, ICC’s General Manager - Cricket and convener of selection panel.

Dharmasena made his international umpiring debut in 2009 and has since umpired in two Tests, 25 One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals.

As a player Dharmasena represented the country in 31 Test matches s and 141 One Day Internationals from 1993 to 2004 during which time he captured a total of 69 and 138 wickets respectively.

The former Nalanda College off-spinner is also a member of the Cricket World Cup winning team with Sri Lanka in 1996 and he also umpired in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, including the tournament opener between Bangladesh and India in Mirpur.