Prakash Bhatt has etched his name into cricket history, officially becoming the second Indian to serve as a Test match referee after Javagal Srinath. The former Saurashtra cricketer made his prestigious “Test debut” on Wednesday in Mirpur, Dhaka, officiating the first Test between Bangladesh and the West Indies. This milestone marks a significant leap for Bhatt, who was selected in April 2024 as part of the ICC’s newly created three-member Emerging panel of international match referees. By joining the Elite panel of five senior referees—including Srinath, Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson, Ranjan Madugalle, and Jeff Crowe—Bhatt has secured a permanent role in the highest level of international cricket administration.
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Bhatt’s appointment is the culmination of a rigorous domestic career that spanned nearly two decades. He has served as a BCCI match referee in domestic cricket since the 2007-2008 season and has been an IPL match referee since 2018, demonstrating consistent excellence in high-pressure environments. His transition to the ICC stage in 2024 was not accidental but a result of his proven track record. As the first Indian included in the inaugural ICC Emerging panel, Bhatt is now positioned to officiate in a substantial volume of international fixtures, signaling the ICC’s confidence in his ability to manage top-tier global contests with impartiality and precision.
The statistical record underscores Bhatt’s extensive experience before this Test milestone. In his international career to date, he has officiated 48 T20Is, six ODIs, four Women’s T20Is, and three Women’s ODIs. This diverse portfolio highlights his adaptability across formats and genders, a quality the ICC values in its emerging referees. With this historic appointment, Bhatt not only joins Srinath in an exclusive club of Indian Test referees but also paves the way for future Indian officials in the ICC’s global hierarchy. His presence in Dhaka represents a tangible step toward greater Indian representation in the governance of international cricket.
Source: Yahoo Sports
