Mahanama fully satisfied, no more retired hurt

After more than a decade of policing international cricket, one of Sri Lanka’s most cultured sportsmen Roshan Mahanama, will come home to roost as he calls it a day on refereeing.

Interestingly when Mahanama quits the field of cricket for the last time in December this year, he would have refereed in more matches that he has played in which has prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to pay the former Sri Lanka captain a glowing tribute.

“Roshan’s hallmark as a Match Referee has been his meticulous preparation and methodical approach. His efficiency and dedication to the task in serving cricket has shone through his time with the ICC”, said Vince Van Der Bijl the ICC’s Senior Umpires and Referees Manager.

Mahanama was one of the gifted schoolboy cricketers who hit it big as a teenager and never looked back until he was picked to open the batting for Sri Lanka with Sidat Wettimuny against Pakistan in 1986.

He was forced to retire prematurely in 1999 over backstage wrangling that he never wanted to be part of and subsequently wrote a book titled Retired Hurt.

Mahanama this time retires as a match official after being allowed to play his part to the longest length he could have and only the ICC may be hurt that one of their most illustrious referees has decided to call it a day.

“The journey for almost 12 years as an ICC match referee has been amazing and something for me to reflect upon with pride and satisfaction. I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with some outstanding professionals, refereed at some great matches and visited some incredible places along the way”, said Mahanama

The former Sri Lanka opening batsman himself will vouch for the fact that he had executed his duties as a match referee with utmost pride and parting ways with the ICC and cricket was a bitter pill to swallow although he understood the fact that making career changes comes just naturally.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision as I am very passionate about cricket, which has been an integral part of my life for over 40 years as a cricketer, coach and ICC match referee,” said Mahanama, who is eight months short of his 50th birthday.

“However, in life a time comes when one has to keep moving forward based on obligations and priorities.

My time has come to devote an uninterrupted focus and attention to my family, who made massive sacrifices over the years to enable me to pursue my career for over three decades”.

Mahanama enrolled into the ICC’s elite panel in 2004 and has so far refereed in 58 Tests, 222 ODIs and 35T20 Internationals more than the 52 Tests and 213 ODIs he played in during a career that spanned 13 years from 1986 to 1999.

Leaving the ICC means that Mahanama will have more time to focus on his business venture in Sri Lanka.