Marais Erasmus to quit officiating after 26 years [Source: @Schrodinger_say/X.com]In a significant development, renowned umpire Marais Erasmus is set to end his umpiring career with a low-key domestic match. Erasmus will make his final appearance as an umpire in Paarl, where Boland will compete with the Lions.Despite being one of the most respected umpires in world cricket, Erasmus chose to end his 26-year career in a simple domestic match, joking that it would be watched by “50 souls and a dog.”Marais Erasmus to retire from umpiringIn what will be the end of an era, veteran umpire Marais Erasmus will make his final appearance as an umpire during a List-A domestic game in South Africa. For context, Erasmus wasn’t just any umpire.He officiated in 82 Tests, 125 ODIs, 61 T20Is and also in the ICC ODI World Cup final held at Lord's. Erasmus won ICC Umpire of the Year three times.However, his journey was not without controversy. He was part of the officiating team during the debated overthrow incident in the 2019 World Cup final. He later made headlines when he upheld the historic “timed out” dismissal of Angelo Mathews following an appeal from Shakib Al Hasan during the 2023 World Cup. In both instances, Erasmus stood firm by the laws of the game.Having stepped away from international cricket in 2024, Marais Erasmus spent his final years mentoring younger umpires while continuing to officiate in domestic and franchise competitions. Also Read - Akash Deep Ruled Out Of IPL 2026, KKR In DisarrayErasmus reveals retirement plansAfter 26 years, Marais Erasmus will finally be off the field. The 62-year-old now plans to enjoy his retirement life to the fullest. Talking to Cricbuzz, Erasmus said he has planned trips with his wife, including visits to Italy and South Africa’s Kruger National Park."Very much retirement. We have travel plans already. We're going to Italy in June and to the Kruger Park in May. I'm looking forward to watching Test cricket over the New Year, but I don't see myself in an official role,” Erasmus said.While he has no intention of returning in an official umpiring role, Erasmus is not completely stepping away from the game. He has been actively mentoring emerging umpires, including those on the international panel, and is open to continuing in a guidance capacity. "I've lined up for a few talks, celebrating Bellville Cricket Club's [in Cape Town] 130th anniversary in April, and in October to speak in Worcester at Drostdy Technical High School, and some cricket functions. That kind of thing will hopefully still happen, but obviously, as I get older and fade into the sunset, my relevance will become less and less,” he added.In addition, Marais Erasmus is scheduled to participate in a few speaking engagements and cricket-related events.Also Read- Players Who Can Replace Akash Deep In KKR Squad For IPL 2026
