Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson appointed to Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees

West Indies will lose a team manager, but the ICC will gain a Match Referee in Richie Richardson

Richie Richardson of the West Indies has been appointed to the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, replacing Sri Lanka’s Roshan Mahanama, who stepped down last week, according to an ICC announcement.

Richardson’s current assignment is as the West Indies cricket team manager, which tenure will end with the Sydney Test against Australia starting on 3 January 2016. He has been the manager of the national team since 2011.

After his assignment with the national team, Richardson will join as the 7th member of ICC’s elite panel of match referees.

Following his appointment, Mr Richardson said: “I am excited and honoured to have been selected for one of the most important jobs in cricket.

“Having been on either side of the fence, first as a player and then as an administrator, I think I have the experience and insight to help me contribute positively alongside some of the finest and most experienced match officials.

“Until the end of the Australia tour, I will remain fully committed and focused on my current assignment as the West Indies cricket team manager and I would like to thank the West Indies Cricket Board for its support over years

Richardson will bring fresh perspective to the role: ICC

The currently serving Match Referees are David Boon, Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andy Pycroft and Javagal Srinath, one of whom must officiate any international match.

The 53-year-old Richardson had represented the West Indies in 86 Tests and 224 One-Day Internationals from 1983 to 1996 in which he scored 5,949 and 6,248 runs, respectively. He captained his side in 24 Tests and 87 ODIs. He played in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1987, 1992 and 1996.

Congratulating Mr Richardson on his appointment, ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, said: “Richie is one of the greats of the game, who is admired for not only his accomplishments as a batsman but also the way he captained the West Indies when he embodied traits such as integrity, leadership and sportsmanship in his dealings both on and off the field.

“He is very familiar with the demands of international cricket through his experiences as a player, captain and now team manager, and he will bring a fresh perspective to the role.

BREAKING: Richie Richardson appointed to Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees http://t.co/6y1ZtCvhoM pic.twitter.com/n3LQpLnljC

— ICC (@ICC) September 21, 2015