Asad Rauf, a former ICC elite umpire from Pakistan, died of a cardiac arrest in Lahore at the age of 66, his brother, Tahir confirmed. He had officiated 231 international games over a period of 13 years.
Rauf, who began his umpiring career in 2000 was promoted to the ICC’s elite panel in 2006 and he, along with Aleem Dar, became one of Pakistan’s most prominent umpires in the next seven years.
Ramiz Raja, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and other former and current cricketers took to social media to express their grief over the sudden death of Asad Rauf.
Rauf made his international umpiring debut in 2000 and stood in his first Test in 2005. In total, he participated as an umpire or TV umpire in 64 Tests, 139 ODIs, 28 T20Is, and 11 women’s T20Is.
Rauf had a successful career before the BCCI banned him for engaging in corrupt practices and disrupting the game during the 2013 Indian Premier League. He was accused of accepting gambling-related gifts.
Earlier this year, a video of the former umpire went viral on social media where he was selling clothes and shoes at a shop in Pakistan’s famous Landa Bazaar, Lahore.
