Clive Lloyd retires as ICC Match Referee

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 22 (UNI) Legendary West Indies cricketer Clive Lloyd has retired as ICC Match Referee after officiating in 53 Tests and 133 ODIs.

At a special ceremony during the lunch interval of the West Indies versus England Super Eight game, the former West Indian skipper was honoured by ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed in recognition of his great contribution to the game as referee.

Speaking at the presentation, Lloyd said, ''This is a wonderful gesture by the ICC and I feel proud to have served them for such a long while. We all come to the end eventually and this is my time but it was a pleasure to have been involved with them.'' As a player Lloyd was the first West Indian to reach the 100-Test milestone and as a hard-hitting batsman he scored 7,515 Test runs at an average of 46.67 with top score of 247 not out.

He is one of the most successful captains in West Indies cricket history, having led his country in 74 Test matches with just 12 defeats coming during his tenure. He was at the helm for one remarkable run of 26 Tests without defeat and 11 successive wins.

Under his captaincy the Caribbean side won both 1975 and 1979 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Lloyd became ICC match referees in 1992 and for one and half decade he officiated in 53 Test matches and 133 ODIs, including 17 games during the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996 and 2003.

Lauding his services, ICC President Percy Sonn said, ''Clive was one of the best loved and most respected players during the height of West Indies cricket in the 1970s and 80s.'' ''Just like when he played the game, Clive brought his own integrity and sense of fair play to his role as referee. He had the rare ability to forge good relations with the players and he always managed to retain their respect, which is so vital for match officials. We were very lucky to have him as one of our referees,'' he added.

UNI