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ICC pays tribute to Steve Bucknor

— Photo: AP

Bidding adieu: The ICC and former cricketers paid glowing tributes to umpire Steve Bucknor after he retired from officiating in Test cricket.

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) paid glowing tribute to its Elite Panel umpire Steve Bucknor, who officiated in his last Test match between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town and will be retiring from ODI cricket later this month.

After the fall of last wicket, Bucknor lingered briefly in the middle of the ground to pray and then embarked on a final lap of the ground.

“Steve’s is a career that has embraced so much and deserves to be celebrated. His record of five consecutive ICC Cricket World Cup finals will not, I contend, be overtaken and he will retire as the umpire to have officiated in the most Test matches and the first to break the 100 Test mark,” the ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, said.

“With his hard-working attitude Steve has been a credit to cricket. We all have to go at sometime and now it is Steve’s time but I hope he continues to work within cricket,” the ICC General Manager (Cricket) and former South Africa wicket-keeper, David Richardson, said.

Former cricketers have also praised Bucknor who started umpiring at international level in 1989, an ICC release said.

“I always respected his decision-making, man-management skills and, above all, his humble and friendly attitude,” said former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, while former England skipper Alec Stewart said: “I hold Steve up there along with David Shepherd as one of the umpiring greats of my era.” — PTI

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