Ahsan Raza (born 29 May 1974 in Lahore, Pakistan) is a Pakistani cricket umpire and former cricketer.[1] In November 2020, in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, he officiated in his 50th T20I match as an on-field umpire, becoming the first umpire to reach the milestone in T20I cricket.[2]

Ahsan Raza
Personal information
Full name
Ahsan Raza
Born (1974-05-29) 29 May 1974 (age 49)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
BattingRight-handed
RoleBatsman, Wicket-keeper, Umpire
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1993–1994Faisalabad
1993–2000Habib Bank Limited
1996–1999Lahore City
1994–1995Sargodha
First-class debut27 October 1993 Habib Bank Ltd v PAC
Last First-class29 January 2000 Habib Bank Ltd v Islamabad
List A debut26 November 1993 Habib Bank Ltd v PAC
Last List A4 October 1999 Habib Bank Ltd v Gujranwala
Umpiring information
Tests umpired11 (2021–2024)
ODIs umpired52 (2010–2023)
T20Is umpired74 (2010–2023)
WODIs umpired12 (2013–2017)
WT20Is umpired16 (2015–2021)
Career statistics
Competition FC LA
Matches 21 4
Runs scored 192 3
Batting average 8 3
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 20 3
Balls bowled 0 0
Wickets
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match n/a
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 56/7 2/2
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 23 November 2023

Playing career edit

Ahsan Raza played for a number of Pakistani teams including Faisalabad, Habib Bank Limited, Lahore and Sargodha.[1][3][4][5]

Umpiring career edit

Ahsan Raza is Pakistan's nominated third umpire on the International Cricket Council International Panel of Umpires and Referees.[6] He made his debut as a first-class umpire in 2006 and had umpired 35 matches by the end of February 2009.[7] He got a contract as an umpire from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) along with Zameer Haider and Shozab Raza in 2012.[8]

He was among the on-field umpires for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup,[9] and the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20.[10] In October 2019, he was appointed as one of the twelve umpires to officiate matches in the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.[11]

In February 2020, the ICC named him as one of the umpires to officiate in matches during the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.[12] Raza was also named as one of the two on-field umpires for the final of the tournament.[13] In December 2020, he was shortlisted as one of the Umpire of the Year for the 2020 PCB Awards.[14]

In January 2021, he umpired in his first Test match, in Pakistan's home series against South Africa.[15]

In March 2023, Raza and Adrian Holdstock from South Africa were inducted in the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires after Aleem Dar left the panel.[16][17]

In September 2023, he was named as one of the sixteen match officials for 2023 Cricket World Cup.[18][19]

Attack edit

On 3 March 2009, Ahsan Raza was injured in an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.[20] He was shot twice and was in a serious condition in a Lahore hospital.[21][22]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Players and Officials – Ahsan Raza". Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Officials for Zimbabwe series named". The News. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Profile – Ahsan Raza". Pakistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  4. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Ahsan Raza". Pakistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  5. ^ "List A Matches played by Ahsan Raza". Pakistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Match Officials". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  7. ^ "Ahsan Raza as Umpire in First-Class Matches". Pakistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  8. ^ Three umpires get PCB contracts ESPNCricinfo.com. Retrieved on 25-2-2012
  9. ^ "Match officials appointed for U19 Cricket World Cup". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  10. ^ "11th team for next month's ICC Women's World T20 revealed". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Match Officials announced for ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  12. ^ "ICC announces Match Officials for all league matches". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Kim Cotton, Ahsan Raza umpires for India-Australia Women's T20 World Cup final". The Statesman. PTI. 6 March 2020. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Short-lists for PCB Awards 2020 announced". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  15. ^ "1st Test, Karachi, Jan 26 - Jan 30 2021, South Africa tour of Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza join ICC Elite Panel of Umpires as Aleem Dar steps down". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Aleem Dar ends 19-year old career as Elite Panel Umpire". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Match officials for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 named". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  19. ^ "ICC announce Match Officials for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Pakistani umpire critically injured in Lahore attack". Sindh Today. 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  21. ^ "ICC condemns gun attack on Sri Lankan players". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  22. ^ "In pictures: Pakistan readies for return of international cricket". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

External links edit