Mahanama is fourth match referee to officiate in 200 ODIs

Dubai, Oct 21 (IANS) Roshan Mahanama became the latest member of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) elite panel of match referees to reach the 200-mark milestone in One-Day Internationals (ODI) when he officiated the first ODI between New Zealand and South Africa in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Tuesday.

A former captain and member of the Sri Lanka squad that won the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup, Mahanama represented his country in 52 Tests and 213 ODIs between 1986 and 1999, in which he scored 2,576 and 5,162 runs, respectively. 

“I am delighted to reach this milestone and am extremely proud to do so. After playing for 14 years for my country, it is an honour for me to be involved with the governing body of the game I so passionately love," Mahanama said in a statement Tuesday. 

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my 10 years as a match referee - a position that has taken me across the globe and has given me an opportunity to remain involved in the sport that has given me so much in various ways." 

He also thanked the ICC for giving him an opportunity to officiate in 200 ODIs. 

“I would like to pay tribute to the staff at the ICC for their support and encouragement over the years, and would also pay a special tribute to my fellow match officials who work extremely hard to ensure that the highest standards of the game are being maintained in all three formats of the game," he said. 

Following his retirement from international cricket in 1999, the Colombo-born cricketer made the transition to refereeing and marked his debut in the ODI between West Indies and Bangladesh in Kingstown in 2004. In the same series, he made his Test debut and has refereed in 54 Tests so far. 

List of match referees to have refereed in 200 or more ODIs: 

Name Span ODIs 
Ranjan Madugalle 1993- to date 283 
Chris Broad 2004 - to date 248 
Jeff Crowe 2004 - to date 207 
Roshan Mahanama 2004 - to date 200