Ranmore Martinesz has proved himself an umpire worthy of being recognized at international level and be included in the ICC's International Panel of Umpires in the near future. For the past three years he has officiated as third umpire in Test matches and ODIs. His most important assignment was umpiring the Euro Asia Cup one-day final between India and Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in front of a crowd of 50,000. Apart from that he has officiated Intercontinental matches at Nepal and in 2003 umpired matches in Bangladesh's domestic tournament. Martinesz was forced to take up umpiring due to a persistent back injury which cut short his career as a cricketer. A fast bowling all-rounder he had a distinguished career at St Peter's College finishing as runner-up Best Bowler in 1985 and then being selected to play for Sri Lanka Under 19 against Australia under 19 in 1985 and for Sri Lanka under 23 against Pakistan under 23 in 1987/88. He represented SSC, Negombo CC and Sebastianites in the Premier tournament before eventually retiring from the game in 1994. He took up umpiring in 1996 and was promoted to the Premier division in 2000.
Sa'adi Thawfeeq February 2008