Wendell Labrooy makes debut as ODI match referee

Wendell Labrooy

Former Sri Lanka fast bowling all-rounder Wendell Labrooy made his debut as a match referee in ODI cricket in the first match between Afghanistan and the Netherlands in Doha, Qatar yesterday.

Labrooy represented the Sri Lanka youth team in the late 1980s and early 1990s and played club cricket for Burgher Recreation Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo Cricket Club and Sebastiantes having learnt his cricket at Maris Stella College in Negombo.

He played in an era at a time there was less international cricket and opportunities for players in Sri Lanka and left the scene after playing in 80 First Class matches taking 241 wickets with a career-best 8 for 83, one ten-wicket haul and nine five-wicket hauls.

Labrooy also had a highest score of 101 and was relatively an unknown figure in retirement although he functioned as an ICC match referee in women’s T20 and ODI cricket.

He is the younger brother of Greame who played in both Tests and ODI cricket for Sri Lanka and worked as an ICC match referee in later years.