Colombo, Sep 26: Australian Simon Taufel will step down from the elite panel after the World Twenty20 to take over the new role of umpire performance and training manager, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Wednesday.
ICC's chief executive officer Dave Richardson said Taufel will now be involved in grooming the next generation of elite umpires. Taufel will be replaced by Bruce Oxenford in the elite panel of ICC umpires.
"I am delighted that he will be working with us to groom and develop the next generation of elite umpires," said Richardson.
Taufel said his new role will help him to spend some more time with his family.
"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," he said.
The 41-year-old Taufel 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, Simon 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 ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final between India and Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He also stood in the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 2007 and 2009 in South Africa and England respectively, as well as in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 in England along with Rudi Koertzen.
