Shaun George (cricketer)
{{Short description|South African cricket umpire}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Shaun George
| image =
| fullname = Shaun George
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1968|1|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|2|24|1968|1|25|df=yes}}
| batting =
| bowling =
| club1 = Eastern Province
| year1 = {{nowrap|1987–1990}}
| club2 = Transvaal
| year2 = {{nowrap|1990–1991}}
| type1 = First-class
| debutdate1 = 14 March
| debutyear1 = 1987
| debutfor1 = Eastern Province
| debutagainst1 = Natal
| lastdate1 = 26 January
| lastyear1 = 1991
| lastfor1 = Transvaal
| lastagainst1 = Western Province
| umpire = true
| odisumpired = 60
| umpodidebutyr = 2011
| umpodilastyr = 2022
| t20isumpired = 50
| umpt20idebutyr = 2010
| umpt20ilastyr = 2023
| wodisumpired = 23
| umpwodidebutyr = 2005
| umpwodilastyr = 2018
| wt20isumpired = 17
| umpwt20idebutyr = 2018
| umpwt20ilastyr = 2021
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 17
| runs1 = 230
| bat avg1 = 10.95
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 45*
| deliveries1 = 1930
| wickets1 = 29
| bowl avg1 = 26.62
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 3/66
| catches/stumpings1 = 5/0
| date = 28 March 2023
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45389.html ESPNcricinfo
}}
Shaun George (25 January 1968 – 24 February 2024) was a South African former cricketer who later became an international umpire.{{Cite web|url=http://cricket.co.za/news/25057/CSA-promotes-seven-umpires-to-Reserve-List-Panel |title=CSA promotes seven umpires to Reserve List Panel |accessdate=11 July 2018 |work=Cricket South Africa}} He was part of Cricket South Africa's umpire panel for first-class matches.{{cite web|url=https://cricket.co.za/news/31510/Agenbag-and-Fritz-break-new-ground-for-SA-Cricket |title=Agenbag and Fritz break new ground for SA Cricket |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=28 August 2019}}
Playing career
George played first-class cricket for Eastern Province and Transvaal between 1987 and 1991.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/68/68321/68321.html | title=Shaun George | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=26 June 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/68/68321/First-Class_Matches.html | title=First-Class Matches played by Shaun George | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=26 June 2012}}
Umpiring career
After making his first-class and List A umpiring debut in 2004, George officiated in his first Twenty20 international (T20I) in 2010. He made his One-day international (ODI) debut the following year.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/68/68321/Umpire_in_First-Class_Matches.html | title=Shaun George as Umpire in First-Class Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=26 June 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/68/68321/Umpire_in_List_A_Matches.html | title=Shaun George as Umpire in List A Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=26 June 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/68/68321/Umpire_in_International_Twenty20_Matches.html | title=Shaun George as Umpire in International Twenty20 Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=26 June 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/68/68321/Umpire_in_ODI_Matches.html | title=Shaun George as Umpire in ODI Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | accessdate=26 June 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://www.cricket.co.za/news_article.aspx?id=335§ion=csa&subsection=csanews | title=Shaun George debut a landmark for CSA umpiring | publisher=Cricket South Africa |date=9 October 2010 | accessdate=26 June 2012}}
He was one of the seventeen on-field umpires for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/586590 |title=Match officials appointed for U19 Cricket World Cup |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=4 January 2018}} He was one of the on-field umpires for the tournament final.{{cite web |url=http://cricket.co.za/news/23168/Shaun-George-appointed-for-duty-in-ICC-under-19-World-Cup-Final |title=Shaun George appointed for duty in ICC under-19 World Cup Final |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=30 January 2018}} In May 2018, he was promoted to the ICC Test/ODI Emerging Panel of umpires.{{cite web|url=http://cricket.co.za/news/24655/CSA-congratulates-Shaun-George-on-promotion-to-ICC-Emerging-Panel |title=CSA congratulates Shaun George on promotion to ICC Emerging Panel |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=17 May 2018}}
In October 2018, he was named as one of the twelve on-field umpires for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20.{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/887510 |title=11th team for next month's ICC Women's World T20 revealed |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=25 October 2018}} Along with Langton Rusere, he was appointed one of the on-field umpires for the tournament's final.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/917870 |title=Match officials for final announced |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=23 November 2018}}
In July 2019, George umpired in his 50th ODI, in the third ODI between Ireland and Zimbabwe, at Stormont, Belfast.{{cite web|url=https://cricket.co.za/news/30968/CSA-congratulates-Shaun-George-on-his-50th-ODI-appointment |title=CSA congratulates Shaun George on his 50th ODI appointment |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=7 July 2019}} In February 2020, the ICC named him one of the umpires to officiate in matches during the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1607955 |title=ICC announces Match Officials for all league matches |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=12 February 2020}}
Death
George died at the age of 56 from a stroke.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/proteas/im-here-because-of-him-umpiring-colleagues-pay-tribute-to-father-figure-shaun-george-20240227|title='I'm here because of him': Umpiring colleagues pay tribute to 'father figure' Shaun George|publisher=News24|date=27 February 2024|first=Khanyiso|last=Tshwaku|url-access=limited}}