Controversial Aussie umpire Daryl Harper withdrew from officiating in the third and final Test match between India and West Indies after being criticised for making dubious decisions in the first Test.
The appearance in the Dominica Test from July 6 would have been Harper's last as an international umpire but the Aussie chose to retire one match early after India's displeasure over some of the decisions he made. "The real shame is it deprives him of the opportunity to sign off as a Test match umpire in a befitting manner," the ICC said on Wednesday in a statement.
Indian players including captain MS Dhoni were said to be upset with Harper’s decisions in the first Test and that is believed to be the cause for the Aussie official to call it quits a Test match early.
"The reality of the situation is that Daryl's statistics show his correct decision percentage in Tests involving India is 96 per cent, which is considerably higher than the international average for top-level umpires," ICC general manager of cricket David Richardson said in the statement.
The 59-year-old Harper officiated in 95 tests, 174 one-day internationals and 10 Twenty20 games. Harper will be replaced by Richard Kettleborough for the third Test.
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