The International Cricket Council (ICC) has congratulated former England test player Chris Broad for achieving the landmark of refereeing in 250 one day internationals.
Chris Broad has become only the second member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees to reach the 250-mark in One-Day Internationals (ODI's) when he took the field to officiate in the second ODI between South Africa and West Indies on Sunday at Wanderers.
Broad, a former left-handed opening batsman, played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire, as well as first-class cricket in South Africa for the Orange Free State. Broad was a mainstay in the England side in the mid-80s, representing his country in 25 Tests and 34 ODIs, in which he scored 1,661 and 1,361 runs, respectively. During an illustrious first-class career, he scored a total of 21,892 runs (including 50 centuries).
Following his retirement and a brief stint as a commentator, the 57-year-old soon made the transition to refereeing and marked his debut in the first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Hamilton in December 2003. A month later, made
his ODI debut as a Match Referee in the same series in Auckland.
He was included in the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referee in 2004.
Speaking at the milestone, Mr Broad said: "I have many happy memories in my career as a Match Referee and this is a huge honour for me to reach this landmark.
"As an ex-cricketer, to remain involved in a sport which has given me so much, I feel privileged to work alongside some outstanding match officials and retain a strong affiliation with the game I love.
"I would like to acknowledge the encouragement of the ICC, especially former CEO Malcolm Speed, who employed me initially but also Vince Van Der Bijl who has brought a much more professional approach to the job in the last few years and continues to offer leadership and guidance to all the match officials. Last but not least, I am indebted to my family and friends for their love and support throughout the years.
"It is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in the game and with an ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on the horizon, there's so much to look forward to."
Paying tribute to Mr Broad on reaching his 250th ODI, ICC's Senior Umpires and Referees Manager, Vince Van Der Bijl, said: "Chris Broad is passionate about his role as ICC match referee and has always felt that it is the best job in the world. He officiates with a wealth of cricket experience behind him, with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach and has done sterling service for the game and the ICC. Congratulations Chris on this special milestone and thank you for your committed service."
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