Calcutta: Renowned umpire Simon Taufel will be stepping down from the elite panel after World T20 to take over the new role of ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced that Taufel will step down from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires at the end of the ongoing T20 tournament, in Sri Lanka, which runs until October 7.
The 41-year-old made his international debut in January 1999, in an ODI between Australia in Sri Lanka, in Sydney, and 23 months later he made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test between Australia and the West Indies.
In an outstanding career, Taufel umpired in 74 Tests and 174 ODIs, with his last Test and ODI appearances being at Lord's a month ago in matches featuring England and South Africa.
Taufel won the ICC Umpire of the Year award for five successive years from 2004 to 2008 and also had the honour of umpiring in the 2011 World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka, at the Wankhede. He also stood in the finals of the 2007 and 2009 editions of World T20 in South Africa and England respectively, as well as in the final of the Champions Trophy 2004 in England.
Taufel, announcing his decision, said: "Following the World T20, I'm moving on from active international umpiring for personal and professional reasons. My wife and children have supported me immensely throughout my career and it is time for me to spend more time with them.
"My passion for cricket umpiring and personal professional development has shifted from on the field to off the field. In my new position as ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager, I look forward to help create professional programmes and resources to support the current and future generations of cricket match officials," Taufel said.