Madugalle appointed chief match referee by ICC

Former Sri Lankan captain and current International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, has been appointed as the ICC as it's chief referee.

On making the appointment ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "Madugalle is clearly regarded as the outstanding member of the existing panel. His record as a former captain of Sri Lanka and the high regard in which he is held throughout the cricket world makes him an ideal appointment for this position."

Madugalle played for Sri Lanka in 21 Tests and 65 one-day internationals between 1979 and 1989 and led his country from 1987-89. He was a national selector from 199-92 and again from 1992-97 and is currently a member of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. He first came into the ICC panel of match referees in 1994 and has officiated in matches involving all Test-playing countries.

Madugalle has the distinction of serving as match referee in the 1999 World Cup final at Lord's and the ICC knockout tournament finals in 1998 and 2000. He was also match referee in the 1996 and 1999 World Cup tournaments.

He also served on the ICC panel of illegal deliveries from its inception till 2000 and was also a member of the ICC sub-committee to review umpiring and refereeing standards.

The ICC recently took a decision to appoint five international match referees on contract, departing from the present practice of appointing match referees tour by tour. Madugalle is the first of the five match referees to be appointed.

His first task would be to identify a panel of potential referees from whom the remaining four referees will be chosen. The final panel will be picked by the ICC chief executive and the chairman of the Cricket Committee (Playing), Sunil Gavaskar.

"On a personal note, I feel quite honoured the ICC has appointed me to be their chief referee," said Madugalle Tuesday.

"I also look at it as a honour to Sri Lanka cricket. It is in this spirit that I look forward to taking on my responsibilities and try to do my very best towards the continuous improvement of the game," he said.

Madugalle, who is currently in Galle as a television commentator for the on-going Test series between Sri Lanka and West Indies, said that he would