The familiar figure donning the white coat

With a heavy shower having delayed the resumption of play after lunch at the Nondescripts Cricket Club, I took the opportunity to walk across the soggy grass outside the boundary line. Percy Abeysekera, the famous fanatical Sri Lankan supporter, has engaged a few India players and some local and visiting fans with his jokes and antics – he waves his hands exaggeratedly, slaps hands, and even breaks into a cooing sound as Sachin Tendulkar comes out on the players' balcony.

But I pass on and make my way towards a man sitting silently against a white wall in the shade 50 meters away, head bent forward, arms resting on knees, far away from the madness. It is Kumar Dharmasena, the former Sri Lankan offspinner, now an umpire. He cuts a calm picture, crisp white shirt and black pants and tennis shoes, and extends a firm handshake.

Dharmasena retired from competitive cricket in 2006 to concentrate on a new career as an umpire. He has been in the news recently, and controversially, for being elevated by Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) umpires committee to the 2009-10 ICC international panel. Dharmasena is not keen to discuss this, but readily talks about his interest in this angle of cricket.

"To be honest, in the latter part of my cricketing career I thought about coaching," he says. "But umpiring was also an ambition and it sounded really exciting and challenging, so I umpired in a few small matches. It worked really well for me, was enjoyable and I figured, why not pursue this after retirement?"

However, very few former Sri Lankan cricketers have taken to umpiring after retiring. Dharmasena doesn't feel there's any lack of opportunities for retired cricketers, or lack of support from Sri Lanka Cricket. Some, like Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillakaratne, have ventured into politics, and others into commentary, and Dharmasena isn't worried about employment after retirement.

He reveals that after his initial officiating stints in the Sara trophy matches he was encouraged by his former Sri Lanka and Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club team-mate Roshan Mahanama, now an ICC match referee, to stand in the Premier competition. "Apart from my close friend, I was really backed by the ICC, which wants more former cricketers to come on as umpires," says Dharmasena. "That's the main reason."

A disciplined bowler who complemented Muttiah Muralitharan's attacking style and contributed to Sri Lanka winning several one-day tournaments, Dharmasena used to appeal vociferously. How did it feel now, standing behind the stumps and having bowlers vehemently appeal repeatedly? "Umpiring came very easy to me," he says matter-of-factly. "If you've played cricket at the higher level, especially as a bowler, you adapt easily. You just know where the bowler is coming from, you know what his tricks are. Being an offspinner, I used to appeal a lot and now I enjoy being asked questions. It tests you."

Dharmasena shyly denies any heated incidents between himself and an international umpire during his playing days, but does recall one occasion. "I was bowling against Australia and the umpire was one of my coaching instructors later on, Peter Manuel. He ruled Andrew Symonds out lbw but recalled him with permission from Marvan Atapattu [replays indicated bat hit ball first]. That was tough for me as a bowler, but in umpiring you have to get it right. You do make mistakes. You need to move on."

But have any players made remarks about his umpiring, especially after he's turned down an appeal. "No, no, not yet," he laughs, "and I'm thoroughly enjoying my life as an umpire. So far, so good."

Being a former international spinner, Dharmasena is excited by the future of Sri Lankan spin. "Ajantha Mendis has been exciting, hasn't he? But there are others, plenty of them. Young spinners will come through the ranks. We have pretty good back-up, you will see."

Dharmasena may have played in Muralitharan's shadow, but as an umpire he wants to make a name for himself.