MUMBAI, India (CMC):

NEW INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) president, Percy Sonn, has paid tribute to Steve Bucknor following the Jamaican umpire's landmark of 150 one-day internationals on Sunday.

"To reach the top in any profession you have to be very good and Steve is exactly that," Sonn told the ICC website prior to Bucknor's duties in India's loss to Australia in their Champions Trophy encounter.

"Not only that, but Steve has been very good for a very long time now and in an era when umpiring decisions are scrutinised more than ever before, his achievement in reaching 150 ODIs is an outstanding one.

A top umpire

"This landmark is a tribute to Steve's skill, dedication and consistency, all qualities that are needed to be a top umpire."

He added: "On behalf of the cricketing world, I congratulate him on this milestone and hope he continues to show himself to be one of the game's top officials for many more matches to come."

The 60-year-old Bucknor has become one of the most outstanding umpires in international cricket, and last year became the first official to stand in 100 Tests.

Bucknor, who has now officiated in 113 Tests to date, has also stood in three successive World Cup finals - 1996, 1999 and 2003 - and could extend that further with next year's Cricket World Cup fast approaching. "I never thought I would get this far as, back when I started, there was the chance to stand in just a few matches every year," Bucknor said. "But now I can look back and think about the ICC Cricket World Cups and many other matches I have umpired and it makes me feel very proud," the umpire stated.