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Venkat retires from umpiring
05/02/2004 21:36 - (SA)
London - Former India captain Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan will retire from elite umpiring after 11 years, the International Cricket Council said on Thursday.
Known as Venkat, the 58-year-old's final game as a member of the ICC's panel will be the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia in Kandy, starting March 16.
Venkat, who was a standout spin bowler for almost two decades at Test level, made his debut as an international umpire in the 1992-93 England v India series in India. He's officiated at 75 Tests and 52 one-day internationals.
"Venkat came to umpiring after a terrific career as a player, administrator and media commentator," ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said.
"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."
Under the two-tiered panel system used to appoint international umpires, Venkat may be able to move back to the secondary panel of umpires if the Indian Board nominates him as one of the two umpires it provides to this group.
If he were selected, he could be appointed by his home board to future one day matches. Venkat is yet to confirm his future.
As a player, Venkat played in 57 Tests and 15 one-day internationals. He began his career as a 19-year-old against New Zealand in 1964 and ended it aged 38 in the 1983-1984 series against Pakistan.
Venkat has also been Indian team manager, secretary of the Tamil Nadu cricket association, Indian national selector, newspaper and magazine columnist and television commentator.
- AP
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