Former ICC elite panel umpire Asad Rauf passes away at 66

Rauf faced suspension for five years for corruption

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS Former Pakistani umpire and International Cricket Council elite panel member Asad Rauf died in Lahore on Thursday. He was 66 and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Rauf officiated 170 international matches in his top flight umpiring career. The 170 matches include 49 Tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20Is. He was also a member of the ICC Elite Umpire Panel from 2006 to 2013, Sportstar reported.

Rauf faced allegations of match-fixing and spot-fixing and it tarnished his career. He was suspended for five years in February 2016 after he was found guilty of corruption, the publication reported.

Rauf was also a successful middle-order batter. Rauf played 71 First Class matches, scoring 3423 runs. He played 40 List A matches, scoring 611 runs, NDTV reported.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ramiz Raja condoled his death. He tweeted, “Saddened to hear about passing of Asad Rauf. Not only was he a good umpire but also had a wicked sense of humour. He always put a smile on my face and will continue to do so whenever I think about him. Many sympathies with his family for their loss.”