The 92-year-old retired England umpire Harold “Dickie” Bird passed away, and the ICC is deeply saddened by his departure.
“Bird was one of the most respected umpires who fans around the world remember fondly long after his retirement,” said ICC Chairman Jay Shah in a statement. Shah stated:
“Dickie Bird represented honesty in the cricketing community and was more than just an umpire. He gained respect from athletes as well as from fans around the world who appreciated his unyielding fairness and obvious presence.
“The faith the cricketing community had in him is demonstrated by the fact that he stood in three World Cup finals and other memorable games. Perhaps more than his stellar career, though, what really made him stand out was his passion for the game and his long relationships with others.
“The cricket world has lost one of its most beloved figures, and we join fans around the globe in remembering a true gentleman of the game.”
Bird, a valuable batsman who scored two hundreds in 93 first-class games for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, first served as an umpire in a first-class match in 1970. After officiating 66 Test matches and 69 One Day Internationals, he stood in his first Test match three years later.
He received a standing ovation from the audience and a guard of respect from both sides during his final Test match, which took place at Lord’s in 1996 between India and England.
The fact that Bird’s book “My Autobiography” is said to have sold over a million copies is a good indicator of his popularity. After retiring, he established the Dickie Bird Foundation to aid under-18 athletes in need. In 2012, he received the title of officer of the Order of the British Empire.
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