You must have heard of cricketers who have taken to full-time umpiring after an active career in the game. Cricket is replete with such examples. But how often have you bumped into someone who has played big league cricket and officiated in top-level international matches as a professional umpire — and incredibly both at the same time?

Meet Aloke Bhattacharjee who is one such phenomenal figure in the Maidan earning the double distinction of being an active cricketer and a full-fledged umpire during his playing days, and he’s been at it for a dozen long years. Barring perhaps a handful of famous examples, like the legendary Srinivas Venkatraghavan, it’s hard to come by characters on the 22-yard strip with such distinction.

From early 70s to mid-80s Bhattacharjee was quite a name to reckon with in Bengal’s cricket fraternity, particularly in the prestigious Ranji Trophy. He was known for his deceptive spin, fielding acumen and a lively presence on the field. He played Ranji Trophy for Bengal and donned the shirt for several popular clubs like Sporting Union, Shyambazar, High Court and Dalhousie. After retiring from first-class cricket in 1987, he devoted full-time to club cricket and turned to his new love — professional umpiring.

Bhattacharjee’s next few years were perhaps less significant but it is this phase that catapulted him to fame among scores of other cricketer-turned-umpires. Bhattacharjee was a rare gem in the Maidan playing cricket for one club and officiating as an umpire the same season at international matches. At 56, Bhattacharjee’s double role as a cricketer-cum-umpire is still on.

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