Asad Rauf, the former Pakistani empire, has passed away due to suspected cardiac arrest in Lahore. He breathed his last at the age of 66. He was one of Pakistan’s most prominent umpires in the mid 2000s, and was also elevated to the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s elite Panel in 2006.
Along with Aleem Dar, Rauf’s emergence gave a new identity to Pakistan’s umpiring panel and enhanced its reputation, which for years was being let down by its poor standards. Apart from his professional life, he was also a nice guy who always put a smile on his face.
Asad Rauf Umpiring Career
Rauf became a first class umpire in 1998 and in February 2000, the Pakistan Cricket Board appointed him to his first One Day International, which was the match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In 2004, he was included in the International panel of Umpires for the first time and in 2006, was included in the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires. In his international career, he officiated in 64 tests (49 as on-field umpire whereas 15 as TV Umpire), 139 ODIs and 28 T20s.
In his early age, between 1977 to 1991, Rauf played in Pakistan domestic cricket, representing Pakistan Universities, Lahore, National Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan Railways.
Banned from Cricket Due to IPL Spot-Fixing
After Rauf’s name came into the 2013 IPL Spot fixing controversy, the ICC reacted immediately by withdrawing him from the panel of match officials for the 2013 Champions Trophy.
He was charged by Mumbai Police in September 2013 in a Mumbai court with illegal betting, cheating and fraud. Rauf denied all allegations against him but refused to go to Mumbai to face the charges. He was found guilty and was banned for five years in February 2016.
Rauf used to Run a Shoe-Shop Post Retirement
Troubled by all round hitting in cricket, he decided to finally retire from all forms of umpiring this year. Rauf was running a shoe-clothing shop in Lahore’s Landa Bazar area for his last moments after retiring from umpiring. This was the main source of his livelihood after his retirement from umpiring.
Several known cricket personalities, including Pakistan Cricket Board’s Chairman, Ramiz Raja and Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal, expresses their sadness and pay homage to Rauf on his demise.
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.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 15, 2022
Sad to know about the news of former ICC umpire Asad Rauf’s demise…May Allah grant him magfirat and give his family sabr Ameen 🤲🏻🤲🏻 pic.twitter.com/VyplFGX6gT
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) September 14, 2022
