Roshan Mahanama to step down as ICC Elite panel referee

Roshan Mahanama to step down as ICC Elite panel referee: Roshan Mahanama will step down from the elite panel of match referees of the International Cricket Council (ICC) at the end of the year, it was announced on Tuesday. In a bid to spend more time with his family and focus on his business activities in Sri Lanka, Mahanama has decided to step down 6 months ahead of the expiry of his contract.

The Sri Lankan joined the elite panel in 2004 and has officiated in 58 Tests, 222 ODIs and 35 T20Is to date, including three ICC Cricket World Cups and the ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Confirming the news, Mahanama said, “This has been an extremely difficult decision as I am very passionate about cricket, which has been an integral part of my life for over 40 years as a cricketer, coach and ICC match referee.”

“However, in life a time comes when one has to keep moving forward based on obligations and priorities. My time has come to devote an uninterrupted focus and attention to my family, who made massive sacrifices over the years to enable me to pursue my career for over three decades” he added.

The 49-year-old also thanked the ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket for providing him with the opportunity to be involved in almost 600 international games. A former captain and a member of the Sri Lanka squad that won the World Cup in 1996, Mahanama represented his country in 52 Tests and 213 One-Day Internationals between 1986 and 1999, in which he scored 2576 and 5162 runs respectively.

ICC General Manager of Cricket, Geoff Allardice, thanked Mahanama for his contributions as a match referee. “Roshan has been one of the pioneers of the elite panel and has been an integral component during the phase when the Referee’s role was evolving. I congratulate him on a successful career as a match referee and wish him well in his future endeavours” he said. Mahanama’s replacement in the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees will be announced in due course, ICC said.