No Indian found a place in the ICC's re-jigged Elite Panel of Umpires from which South African veteran Rudy Koertzen will retire next month, bringing down the curtains on a career spanning 18 years.
Another South African Marais Erasmus and Australian Rodney Tucker are the two new additions to the panel. Erasmus and Tucker will replace Koertzen and England's Mark Benson, who stepped down from the panel in February, the ICC said in a statement.
Ever since S Venkataraghavan retired from the 2002 original panel in 2004, India has had no representation in the elite list.
Koertzen announced his retirement from officiating, effective at the end of his upcoming Test assignments in England.
Koertzen's last assignment as an elite umpire will be the second and final Test between Pakistan and Australia at Headingley from July 21 to 25.
He will also stand in the first Test between the two sides at Lord's from July 13 to 17. When he retires, Koertzen would have stood in 106 Tests, a record 209 ODIs and 14 Twenty20 Internationals.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, "A distinguished career like Rudi's presents a benchmark for aspirant umpires.
Rudi is a role model for many of the younger-generation umpires and his distinguished career sets a standard for them to emulate."
"He is one of the most respected umpires in the game and has always been confident and self motivated yet humble," he added.
Reflecting on his career, Koertzen, who is currently officiating in the triangular ODI series between India, Sri Lanka and hosts Zimbabwe, said: "It has been 18 incredible years for me as an international umpire and I have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it."
"Even though I will retire after the Leeds Test, I'll be more than happy to assist and help young umpires if they need my guidance as cricket also teaches us to give something back to the sport. After 18 years in business, I think it is payback time," he added.
Erasmus has umpired in two Tests, 16 ODIs and 11 T20Is.
The 46-year-old an all-rounder during his playing days.
Tucker, on the other hand, has so far stood in three Tests, 14 ODIs and eight T20Is. The 45-year-old is a former first-class cricketer.
Elite Panel of ICC Umpires for 2010-11: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Asoka de Silva, Billy Doctrove, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Daryl Harper, Tony Hill, Asad Rauf, Simon Taufel, Rodney Tucker.
