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Dubai: "I never wanted to become a cricket umpire," International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel umpire Asad Rauof told Gulf News.
"I played first class cricket and was not at all interested in umpiring. In Pakistan, umpires did not have a good reputation and as a player I had also seen the behaviour of some players towards umpires. So I never wanted to take up that job," added Rauof, who had played 71 first class matches, scoring 3 centuries and 22 half centuries.
"It was former Test star Majid Khan who persuaded me to become an umpire. He organised an umpiring course for Aleem Dar, Nadeem Ghouri and me. After attending the course, I felt confident, but when Majid asked me to umpire first class matches, I refused," Rauof revealed.
"I had no clue as to whether I had the temperament to become an umpire and so I told him I would officiate only in under-19 and Grade Two matches.
" After four matches, I started enjoying my job and agreed to officiate in four first class matches in Sargoda, one of the hottest areas in Pakistan.
"The matches were played in 47 degrees Celsius and I survived it. After that one assignment, I went and told Majid I would take up umpiring," recalled Rauof, who flew in from New Zealand after officiating in the New Zealand-England series and staged a two-day umpiring seminar organised by Dulsco.
When asked what makes a good umpire, Rauof said: "It is the willingness to learn. I've never hesitated to knock the doors of senior umpires like Steve Bucknor, Simon Tauffel and the late Shakoor Rana and learn from them."
Rauof believes an umpire should win the respect of top players. "You will earn their respect only if you perform in the middle. So it is important to get the decisions right," he added.
Rauof also revealed that he may umpire only for another two years. "I will give up umpiring when I am at my best and not hang on for 5 or 10 years," he said.
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