A veteran Pakistan umpire who rose to the elite panel of International Cricket Council (ICC) umpires in 2006 is now selling clothes and shoes at Landa Bazaar, Lahore. Asad Rauf has officiated in 49 Tests, 98 ODIs, 23 T20Is. Before donning the umpire’s hat, he played First-Class cricket for more than a decade. He has also been a part of Indian Premier League (IPL). But, now he is happy earning a living in a busy bazaar and feels he has had enough of the sport with nothing left to see for him.
“Nahi, maine saari umar jab khud hi khila diye toh ab dekhna kisko hai (No, I’ve umpired in so many games all my life, there’s no one left to see now),” the Lahore-born umpire told Paktv.tv when asked about whether he is following the game of cricket of late.
“Maine 2013 ke baad cricket se bilkul hi…..kyunki mai jo kaam chhodta hu usko chhod hi deta hu (I haven’t been in touch with the game since 2013, because once I leave something I leave it completely).”
The 66-year-old faced a five-year ban from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after he was found guilty of corrupt practices. The Pakistani umpire was accused of accepting expensive gifts from bookies during IPL 2013.
“I have spent my best time in IPL, apart from these issues that came later on,” he said.
“Unse mera toh koi lena dena tha hi nahi, wo unhi (BCCI) ki taraf se aaye aur unhone hi decision le liye (I had nothing to do with these issues, the allegations came from the BCCI’s side and they took the decision on me themselves).”
However, Rauf’s relation with controversy in IPL started a year before. In 2012, a Mumbai-based model had accused him of sexual exploitation. The model claimed that the umpire had promised to marry her and it was the reason she stayed in a relationship with him. A decade later, Rauf denies all the allegations.
“Ladki waala maamla jab aaya tha, toh mai to uske agle saal bhi IPL krwane gaya tha (Even after the allegations from the girl, I had umpired in the IPL next season),” Rauf clarified.
Rauf was a part of ICC’s elite panel of umpires for a better part of his umpiring career. He wants to achieve the peak of what he is doing now as a shopkeeper.
“Meri aadat hai, jis kaam ko shuru karta hu uski peak pe jaata hu. Maine landai ka kaam shuru kiya hai, iski bhi peak pe mai gaya hu. Maine cricket kheli hai toh iski bhi peak pe mai gaya hu. Aur phir maine umpiring shuru ki, toh maine socha ki iski bhi peak pe hi jaana chahiye (It is my habit to reach the peak of whatever work I do. I started work as a shopkeeper, I have reached its peak. I played cricket, I reached the peak. And then when I started out as an umpire, I said to myself that I need to reach the peak here as well),” he concluded.
