Ending an 11-year wait, Sundaram Ravi on Thursday became the first Indian after S Venkataraghvan to be inducted in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires following an annual review and selection process.
New Zealand’s Chris Gaffaney and Ravi were promoted from the International Panel of Umpires to the Elite Panel, replacing Kiwi veteran Billy Bowden and the retiring Steve Davis, stated an ICC media release.
The Elite Panel of Umpires for 2015-2016 will be: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel llong, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker and Bruce Oxenford.
Ravi has umpired in six Tests, 24 ODIs and 12 T20Is, since making his international debut in Visakhapatnam in 2011.
“I feel honoured and privileged to be selected for the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and thank the BCCI for its support and the ICC for providing this opportunity,” the 49-year-old said.
“I have always enjoyed the company of those umpires already on the elite panel and now I have the chance to work with them all on a more regular basis. I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead and aim to maintain a high standard of umpiring,” he added.