ICC Awards: Kumar Dharmasena Bags the Umpire of the Year Award

Sri Lanka’s umpire Kumar Dharmasena has received the International Cricket Council Umpire of the year award for 2018. Kumar was accurate in his decision making and he is one of the best umpires in the game. Thus, Dharmasena has been awarded with the David Shepherd Trophy for the ICC Umpire of the year.

In fact, this is the second time, Kumar Dharmasena has been awarded the prestigious honour. The Sri Lankan umpire had bagged the award for the first time in 2012. Meanwhile, South Africa’s umpire Marais Erasmus had received the umpire of the year award in 2017.

Dharmasena hoped this award would inspire other Sri Lanka officials. Kumar Dharmasena said as per ICC, “It has been a very satisfying year for me and this award from the ICC is a great honour and privilege. This comes six years after I was first named for the award and will inspire me to keep doing the job I love so much. I have always been passionate about cricket, both as a player and an umpire and look forward to keeping working hard and challenging myself in order to meet the demands of this great game.

Dharmasena gave credit to his family for being the pillar of strength for him during all these years. The umpire also gave credit to his coach Peter Manuel.

“I would like to thank my wife for being the strength behind my achievements and also my kids for their support and understanding. I would like to thank Mr. Peter Manuel, my coach, for his guidance from the start of my umpiring career, together with all the other coaches from ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket. I take this opportunity to thank all my fellow colleagues for all the encouragement and support over the years, without which this would not have been possible.”

Kumar Dharmasena did a fine job while officiating in the big matches of the year. He was accurate in his decisions and has been rewarded for his hard work. Furthermore, Dharmasena will like to continue with his good work going at the topmost level. It is never easy for an umpire to get his decisions right and Dharmasena has done a good job.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has sweep all the major ICC awards of 2018. The Indian captain is the ICC Cricketer of the Year, he is the ICC Test player as well as the ICC ODI player of the year. Furthermore, Rishabh Pant is the emerging cricketer of the year.

Congratulations to @dharmasena_k who wins the David Shepherd Trophy for the ICC Umpire of the Year 2018!

It is the second time he has received the prize, first picking up the award in 2012.

➡️ https://t.co/DjxiXotQSq#ICCAwards ? pic.twitter.com/Og6qIyq4um

— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019