Former England cricketer-turned-umpire Richard Illingworth has been named ICC's Umpire of the Year 2024. Illingworth was one of the umpires for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa in Barbados. He was also in the umpire's panel for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia and faced flak for giving KL Rahul out despite not having conclusive evidence for overturning the on-field umpire's decision.
Illingworth also officiated in the Mumbai Test alongside Michael Gough between India and New Zealand. He was part of another controversy as the third umpire overturned his decision to give Pant out.
Controversial Pant dismissal
However, the umpiring duo were lauded for getting 11 out of 14 decisions right throughout the Test in the high-pressure game which ended in New Zealand's favour. The Tom Latham-led side completed a historic series sweep in Mumbai as India crumbled in the run chase after Pant's dismissal.
"About that dismissal, I honestly, I don't know," captain Rohit Sharma said after the match. "If we say something, it is not accepted well. But if there is not conclusive evidence, it has to stand with the umpire's on-field decision. That is what I have been told. So I don't know how that decision was overturned, since the umpire didn't give him out.
"The bat was clearly close to the pad. So, again, I don't know if it is the right thing for me to talk about. It is something for the umpires to think about. Have the same rules for every team, not keep changing their mind."
Illingworth's career as cricketer
Illingworth is a former Indian cricketer who made his Test and ODI debut in 1991. During a course of nearly five years, the left-arm spinner played nine Tests and 25 ODIs. He took 19 wickets at an average of 32.26 in Tests including a four-wicket haul. In 25 ODIs, he had 30 wickets at an average of 35.30. He was part of the 1992 World Cup final side that lost to Imran Khan's Pakistan in Melbourne.
He made his last appearance in domestic cricket in 2002. In first-Class cricket and List A cricket, he has 831 wickets and 412 wickets respectively.