Retired international cricket umpire Rudy Kirsten has died in a car accident in South Africa. Local news reports revealed that referee Rudi Koertzen and three other people died in the head-on collision near Riversdale last Tuesday.

He was a South Africaat the time of his death at the age of 73. Recently had rest from his career.

Having officiated a record 209 ODIs, Rudy Kirsten is one of only three ICC umpires to have officiated 100 Test matches. Koertzen surpassed legendary umpire David Shepard’s record of 172 ODIs after the 2007 Cricket World Cup between West Indies and England and went on to officiate a record 209 ODIs.

He was accused of several controversial decisions, including continuing the 2007 ODI World Cup final between Sri Lanka and Australia in the dark due to a misinterpretation of the laws of cricket, which led to an ICC investigation.

Due to this, it is notable that he was not given any assignment in his maiden ICC T20 World Cup held in his country in 2007.

Rudy Kirsten, who has become a household name among world cricket referees, has worked as an international referee for 18 years.