Former Pakistani ICC umpire Asad Rauf passes away after sudden cardiac arrest aged 66 in Lahore on Thursday. According to the family sources, his funeral prayer will be offered in Lahore today.
Rauf was part of the elite panel umpire of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and had a substantial career as a middle-order batter before he moved towards umpiring. He appeared for National Bank and Railways, averaging 28.76 from 71 first-class matches, the publication stated.
In his career as an umpire, he officiated 64 Tests, 49 of which were on-field umpires and 15 as TV umpires. Rauf stood as an umpire in 139 ODIs and 28 T20Is.
He was on the ICC ODI panel since 2004 and was promoted to the ICC’s elite panel in 2006, just a year after starting as a Test umpire.
Inna lillahi wa inna
ilayhi raji'un.Very sad to know about https://t.co/jNzOmhksX0 of the finest umpires in the game of cricket who was always ready to take brave decisions.#RIP https://t.co/GQ44A7byX9— Misbah Ul Haq (@captainmisbahpk) September 15, 2022
He, along with Naeem Dar, is credited for improving the reputation of the Pakistani umpires before the introduction of neutral umpires.
His career ended in 2013 when Mumbai Police named him as a “wanted to be accused” in the spot-fixing case during the Indian Premier League. Rauf left India even before the end of the Indian Premier League. He was also dropped from the panel of umpires for the Champions Trophy later that year.
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The former Pakistani umpire had claimed his innocence and even expressed his willingness to cooperate with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit and Security Unit.
Later, BCCI banned Asad Rauf for five years in 2016 based on alleged corruption and misconduct.
Former Pakistani cricketers have expressed condolence on the passing away of Asad Rauf.
“Sad to know about the news of former ICC umpire Asad Rauf’s demise…May Allah grants him mag first and gives his family sabr Ameen,” said Kamran Akmal in a tweet.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.Very sad to know about http://him.One of the finest umpires in the game of cricket who was always ready to take brave decisions,” said former Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq.