Ian Robinson, one of the ICC's international panel umpires, has announced his retirement. He will now focus on his new role as ICC Regional Umpires' Performance Manager (RUPM) for the Africa region.

Robinson, 57, started his umpiring career in 1975 and served on Zimbabwe's first-class panel for a record 31 seasons. A veteran of 28 Test matches, 90 one-day internationals and three World Cup tournaments, Robinson was recently appointed as one of five RUPMs and he will have particular responsibility for the Africa region.

"Following my appointment as an ICC Regional Umpires Performance Manager, it has become clear that I will not be able to continue as a member of the ICC International Panel," said Robinson. "It is, therefore, with regret and enormous pride, that I am closing this chapter of my cricket life, so as to be fully effective in my new role."

Vince van der Bijl, the ICC's Umpires' and Referees' manager, credited Robinson as an "enormously popular figure within cricket and an excellent umpire". "Ian has given a huge part of his life to cricket and, in particular, to umpiring the game so his on-field influence will be missed by players, spectators and other match officials.

"It is great, though, that Ian will still be heavily involved in the game and I have no doubt that his knowledge and enthusiasm will help to develop and nurture the next generation of top-level umpires from Africa," he said.