Asad Rauf (1956-2022)

Though he had opted to stay out of the media glare, the passing away of Asad Rauf, in Lahore on September 14, 2022, deprived the world cricket fraternity, of a much-loved character, both on and off the field.

Though numerically not as prolific as his close friend and fellow-Pakistani Aleem Dar, Asad performed his duties as ICC Elite Umpires to the highest standard for eight years (2005-13). In the period, his judgement was as good as any other umpire in the world and it must be said, in sharp contrast to Dar, he was much more at ease with his engagement with players, officials and media and being part of the world stage. This he achieved through his engaging persona and ‘Lahori’ wit, a quality that is set to feature prominently in his legacy.

Asad along with Dar, could do nothing wrong and the pair were among the top international umpires. Their presence as top-ranking cricket officials was all the more significant as Pakistan, in the aftermath of terrorism and spot-fixing, faced international isolation. In the days he was contemplating retirement to focus on his family and business, his name was engulfed in controversy – alleged links with bookies and a relationship with Indian model Leena Kapoor - whilst umpiring in IPL in 2013 that caused somewhat dramatic exit for Asad.

His name was removed from 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and the same year he was charged by Mumbai Police with illegal betting, cheating and fraud. In 2016 BCCI handed him a five-year ban of umpiring at any level for charges of corruption and misconduct, with no apparent support from PCB. Due to personal security fears, Asad’s request for the hearing to be conducted outside India was rejected, by both ICC and BCCI.

Born on May 12, 1956 and fondly referred as ‘Kakoo Khan’ - a nickname from his childhood days in Shad Bagh, Lahore. It would carry on in the cricket circles too. Asad was one of three brothers amongst six siblings. He accepted an invitation from Mian Aslam, an ICC Elite Umpire, to represent Muslim Gymkhana, a club with its roots in the Old City and Minto Park, in the period of 1985-87. Batting at No.4 for the club, he never lacked courage and bowled tidy off-spinners. He also made it into the Government College, Lahore cricket side and would join P&T Gymkhana, to further his ambitions.

As a player, before switching his focus to umpiring, Asad made the headlines with 122 and 145 not out as an opening batsman, for Pakistan Universities against Peshawar at Peshawar Club Ground in the 1979-80 Patrons Trophy,

which was not fc. Asad represented Railways in the inaugural Wills Cup in 1980-81 and also had an innings of 138 for them against Bahawalpur at Quetta in the 1981 Servis Cup. In his second season for Railways, who put him in one-down, Asad scored his maiden hundred – 130 out of 254 all out, against National Bank attack featuring Ehtesham-ud-din, Jahanzeb Khan & Anwar Khan, in Bahawalpur in 1981-82 QA Trophy. It was an innings to cherish for it would remain a career-best. In the same season he scored 66 for Habib Bank at Hyderabad in the Wills Cup, which was the highest of his four fifties in List A limited-overs cricket.

In his career, Asad topped the six hundred fc runs mark in four separate seasons, with 672 @ 35.36 in 1986-87 as his best with the bat, whilst at National Bank, whom he would represent till 1990-91. In 71-match fc career (1977-78 to 1990-91) for Pakistan Universities, Railways, Lahore City Whites and National Bank, Asad scored 3423 runs @ 28.76 with 130 as the highest among three hundreds and 22 fifties, caught 29 and claimed 3 wickets @ 149.33 with 1-3 as his best haul.

Backed by PCB CEO Majid Khan, National Bank captain Iqbal Qasim and the management of P&T Gymkhana, headed by Azhar Zaidi, in 1998 Asad prepared himself for an umpiring career, following a modest run as a player in Pakistan domestic cricket. His umpiring debut coming in during the 1998-99 QA Trophy and his last domestic fc, due to increasing international commitments, was the 2005-06 QA Trophy (Gold League) at Lahore, when he officiated alongside Saleem Badar.

In only his second year in his new role, Asad was deemed worthy of fast track to have first appointment in an international fixture – an ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Gujranwala in 2000. Once picked among the ICC Elite Umpires, Asad proved popular with both players and officials all around the world. His wit and sense of humour didn’t go a miss, whenever approached by media, particularly Indian, although always vary of ICC code of conduct.

Now with the Test matches being supervised, all around the world by ICC-appointed neutral umpires and more and more use of technology, including DRS and the role of a TV (third) umpire, Asad more than justified his appointment, with shrewd decision-making. His 49-Test matches as an umpire, not one on Pakistan soil, included a number of high-profile red-ball clashes: Australia vs South Africa (2005-06), Australia vs India (2007-08), The Ashes (2009), England vs India (2011), Australia vs South Africa (2012-13), etc. His third such appointment was a Boxing Day Test between Australia and

South Africa at Melbourne, when he walked out with West Indies’ Steve Bucknor. Time and again he showed his authority and was quick to curb down any friction between players. Typically Asad stood his ground, whenever his judgement came under question, more so by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who in 2008 had to issue a public apology for his outburst.

The highlight of his 98 ODIs as an umpire were 2006 and 2009 ICC Champions Trophy in India and South Africa respectively, 2007 and 2011 ICC World Cup tournaments in West Indies and the Indian sub-continent respectively. Asad officiated 29 T20Is, beginning with the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Championship in 2007 in South Africa and also did the same in its following editions in England (2009), West Indies (2010) and Sri Lanka (2012). In all he stood in 151 fc, 103 List A and 97 T20 matches. He also stood in four editions (2008-13) of Indian Premier League featuring 51 matches and in womens cricket, both international and domestic. During his umpiring career, Asad fought health battles, including two open heart surgeries but it never impacted his easy going demeanour.

He performed Hajj, alongside Dar, in November 2011. In the post 2013-period he was able to attend the needs of his son with additional needs and the business of second-hand garments and shoes in one unit and houseware and kitchenware in the second unit in Landa Bazar, located in the basement of newly-built shopping Plaza, opposite Meo Hospital, Lahore. In the year preceding his death, due to a cardiac arrest, he had been openly talking to various TV channels, after years of hush hush. Asad is survived by wife and two sons.

The scribe is grateful for Mian Mohammad Aslam, Khalid Niazi and Iftikhar Dar, for their assistance.