The cricket fraternity lost renowned umpire Rudi Koertzen, who breathed his last on Tuesday. As informed by the family members to media, the 73-year-old met lost his life in a car accident in South Africa. As per reports, the South African umpire met with the unfortunate incident while driving from Cape Town to Despatch in Eastern Cape, where he stayed with his family.
Following the tragic loss, several cricketers and umpires took to social media to express their condolences towards his family. Virender Sehwag, one of India's most destructive batters, also paid an emotional tribute to Koertzen, and remembered the moments the two shared on the pitch.
In a series of tweet, Sehwag shared that Koertzen was so fond of his batting, that every time he played a rash shot, he used to be scolded by him. He also shared another incident, when Koertzen asked for Sehwag's assistance to buy pads for his son, following which the Indian gifted him a pair.
"Vale Rudi Koertzen ! Om Shanti. Condolences to his family.
"Had a great relation with him. Whenever I used to play a rash shot, he used to scold me saying, “Play sensibly, I want to watch your batting”.
"One he wanted to buy a particular brand of cricket pads for his son
{{/usCountry}}"One he wanted to buy a particular brand of cricket pads for his son
{{/usCountry}}“And enquired about it from me. I gifted him and he was so grateful . A gentleman and a very wonderful person. Will miss you Rudi. Om Shanti," Sehwag tweeted.
Koertzen was a member of ICC’s elite panel of umpires for eight years. He officiated in 331 matches, a record at the time of his retirement in 2010, which has since been surpassed by Pakistan’s Aleem Dar.
"It is a very big loss, foremost for his family and then for South Africa and cricket," Dar was quoted as saying by ESPNcricInfo.
"I stood in so many games with him. He was not only very good as an umpire but also an excellent colleague, always very cooperative on field and also always willing to help off the field.
“Because of the way he was, he was also well-respected by players."
-with Reuters inputs