Former ICC Elite Panel Umpire Asad Rauf Dies Of Cardiac Arrest

Rauf officiated in 64 Tests -49 as on-field, 15 as the third umpire- 139 ODIs (98 as on-field, 41 as the third umpire) and 28 T20Is (23 as on-field, 5 as the third umpire).

Former ICC elite panel umpire Asad Rauf dies

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Former Pakistan umpire, Asad Rauf, who was also on the elite panel of the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 2006 to 2013, passed away following a cardiac arrest in Lahore. Rauf was 66. Expressing shock over his demise former Pakistani batsman Ramiz Raja offered condolences to his family members and remembered Rauf as a person with good sense of humour.

"Saddened to hear about passing of Asad Rauf. Not only was he a good umpire but also had a wicked sense of humour. He always put a smile on my face and will continue to do so whenever I think about him. Many sympathies with his family for their loss," Raja tweeted.

Saddened to hear about passing of Asad Rauf. Not only was he a good umpire but also had a wicked sense of humour. He always put a smile on my face and will continue to do so whenever I think about him. Many sympathies with his family for their loss.

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 15, 2022

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal also took to Twitter to express grief. "Sad to know about the news of former ICC umpire Asad Rauf's demise," wrote Akmal on his Twitter handle.

Rauf officiated in 64 Tests -49 as on-field, 15 as the third umpire- 139 ODIs (98 as on-field, 41 as the third umpire) and 28 T20Is (23 as on-field, 5 as the third umpire). He was one of the finest umpires of his time. He joined the ICC elite panel in 2006 a year after officiating his first Test.

Along with Aleem Dar, he was a well-liked personality on the circuit who contributed to enhancing the standing of Pakistani umpires prior to the neutral umpire era.

Rauf played for National Bank and Railways during his lengthy first-class career as a middle-order hitter, averaging 28.76 from 71 first-class games.

His career came to a halt after match-fixing and spot-fixing charges were leveled against him. Rauf was awarded a five-year suspension in February 2016 after being found guilty of charges.

(With ANI inputs)