Ranjan Madugalle has achieved a historic milestone as the first match referee to officiate in 400 men’s ODIs, marking this achievement in the third ODI between India and Sri Lanka.
Madugalle, a match referee since 1993, holds the record for officiating 216 Tests as well. The former Sri Lanka player also served as the International Cricket Council’s chief match referee before the position was discontinued.
To celebrate his landmark achievement, he was presented with a plaque by Sri Lanka Cricket and the ICC, with SLC CEO Ashley de Silva delivering the honours.
ICC Senior Manager of Umpires and Referees, Sean Easey, praised Madugalle, stating, “Ranjan's extensive refereeing career and his milestone of 400 ODIs is truly remarkable. His dedication to cricket and his role is evident through his impressive body of work. On behalf of the ICC, we thank Ranjan for his hard work and wish him continued success.”
Madugalle expressed his joy at reaching this milestone, saying, “It is a tremendous honour to have been involved in international cricket for so many years. Reaching this milestone feels almost surreal. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the game post my playing career, and I never imagined it would span over three decades. I cherish every moment of officiating around the world and in various World Cups. My sincere thanks go to the ICC, Sri Lanka Cricket, my colleagues, and my family and friends for their unwavering support.”
During his playing career, Madugalle represented Sri Lanka as a batter, appearing in 21 Tests and 63 ODIs.