Venkat announces retirement date

Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, known universally as Venkat, is to retire from the elite panel of international umpires during the forthcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia. Venkat's final match in charge will be the second Test at Kandy, which starts on March 16.

Venkat, whose involvement in international cricket spans nearly 40 years, made his umpiring debut in India's 1992-93 home series against England, and will have stood in 75 Tests and 52 ODIs by the time he finally bows out. Prior to that, he played 57 Tests and 15 ODIs as a member of India's famous quartet of spinners, alongside the likes of Bishan Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar.

He played his first Test aged 19, against New Zealand in 1964-65, and after an on-off career, finally bowed out at the age of 38 against Pakistan in 1983-84. He was India's captain for five matches, including four on the 1979 tour of England.

Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, said that Venkat would be recognised as one of the outstanding umpires to have stood in international cricket. "Venkat came to umpiring after a terrific career as a player, administrator and media commentator," said Speed. "He has stood the test of time in an exceptionally demanding profession.

"He has seen international cricket and international cricket umpiring undergo extraordinary change," Speed added, "and has stood up to the scrutiny that now comes with being involved in the game at the elite level. His integrity and passion for cricket are of the highest order and he has helped ensure that the spirit of the game remains intact for those that will follow."

Under the two-tiered panel system used to appoint international umpires, Venkat may yet be able to move back to the secondary panel of umpires, from which the respective boards choose who stands in home ODIs. But he has yet to confirm whether he wishes to make himself available.

In Venkat's career, he has also taken on the roles of Indian team manager, secretary of the Tamil Nadu cricket association, national selector, newspaper and magazine columnist and expert TV commentator, as well as acting as an international match referee in both Test and ODI matches.