HARARE - Tributes continue to pour for former Zimbabwe cricket umpire Ian Robinson who succumbed to lung cancer on Sunday.
The Robinson family will conduct a private cremation this week and a public memorial will be held at the Highlands Presbyterian Church, in Harare next Wednesday.
Sports and Recreation Commission director-general Charles Nhemachena described the late cricket umpire as a dedicated and devoted individual, who raised the Zimbabwean flag on various international platforms.
“It is with a deep sense of shock and sadness that we have received the news of the passing on of Ian Robertson one the longest serving Cricket Umpires and Administrators,” Nhemachena said in a statement.
Robinson played cricket for Hatfield Sports Club before embarking on a career in umpiring beginning with the domestic first class in 1978.
His international debut was in Zimbabwe’s inaugural Test match against India in 1992 at Harare Sports Club in 1992.
He went on to officiate in 28 Tests, 90 One Day Internationals and three World Cup tournaments in 1992, 1996 and 1999 and also served as a Zimbabwe Cricket Union (now ZC) board member for 14 years and nine years as an employee of the same board.
Langton Rusere, who made his international umpiring debut last year to join the prestigious 34-member panel on the ICC International Panel (IP) of umpires in the world, said he took up officiating after he was inspired by Robinson.
“...I was inspired by Ian. He achieved stuff that no other umpire will ever get to achieve,” Rusere told the Daily News yesterday.
“...He really challenged me to try and comprehend the laws of the game like he did. He was always on point. I wanted to know the laws as much as he did and I feel good about myself when we would debate on the laws and he’d say ‘that’s right’, sad loss indeed.”
Former Zimbabwe cricket coach Alan Butcher said he was shocked to learn about Robinson’s death.
“Shocked to read of the death of Zimbabwe umpire Ian Robinson, shared some fun cross Zim road trips with him 2012/2013... RIP Ian,” Butcher wrote on his Twitter account.
Former ZCU board member Nick Chouhan said Robinson was a respected player and administrator.
“Ian Robinson was a fine gentleman and well respected cricketer, both as a player and a cricket administrator. I had a pleasure of playing against him and also working with him in my years on both the Mashonaland and Zimbabwean Cricket boards,” Chouhan said.
“He will be remembered all over the world as an International umpire who represented at the highest levels. He will be sorely missed.”