By BV Swagath
Umpire Simon Taufel is all set to retire from Umpiring after tomorrow’s ICC World T20 Final between Sri Lanka and West Indies. Taufel, unlike his predecessors Dickie Bird, David Shepherd and others has decided to retire from his profession at a young age of 41.
Taufel has announced that he will move into a new role that of an ICC's Umpire Performance and Training Manager. The 41-year-old Australian has the honour of winning the ICC Umpire of the Year awards for five consecutive times between 2004 and 2008.
Simon Taufel has always been considered as one of the best Umpires. The good looking Umpire made his International debut way back in 1999 at the age of 28. Taufel’s big break came in 2002 when he became a member of the ICC Elite Umpires Panel.
In his illustrious Umpiring career, Simon Taufel had a big scare when he survived in the Lahore Terror attack in 2009. The terror attack saw seven Sri Lankan cricketers getting wounded by sharpnels and bullets.
The 41-year-old Taufel will finish his Umpiring career with 74 Tests, 174 ODIs and 34 T20Is (including the SL-WI Final of the T20 World Cup).
Talking to the press, Taufel said "When I look back, there are many memorable moments but I can instantly remember the India versus Pakistan game at Mohali during the 2011 World Cup semifinal as the most exciting one. The Prime Ministers of the two countries were present and it was more than just a game of cricket. I believe there were two finals in 2011 World Cup. The semifinal and the Final."
Taufel said that the toughest match he officiated was a Test match at Mumbai between India and England as he went into that match following a stomach bug in the previous Test at Mohali. The Aussie Umpire said that it was tough to stand in those five days.
In the below press conference, Simon Taufel talks about his decision to retire, the toughest match he had officiated and other aspects of his Umpiring career:
