The International Cricket Council's loss could be gain for the Indian Premier League.
Simon Taufel, the world's best umpire, may join the Board of Control for Cricket in India's multi-million dollar Twenty20 venture after his contract with the International Cricket Council expires on March 31.
The Australian, rated the best in the business for the past four years, said there is no certainty about him renewing his contract.
"After that I am on the open market. I am taking it year by year," Taufel said.
He said the need to spend time with his family and look for opportunities outside cricket could result in him leaving international umpiring.
"It's important to spend time with my family, spend more time with my kids. I am always looking for new opportunities, not necessarily umpiring," Taufel told The Daily Telegraph.
Taufel has stood in 49 Tests and 118 one-day internationals since starting in 1999.
He is expected to receive an offer to join the lucrative Indian Premier League and did not rule out leaving international cricket and becoming an 'IPL specialist'.
"That's possible, but I don't know what the parameters are yet," he said.
Umpires are on a retainer and are paid US $6,600 per Test and US $3,300 per one-day international.
Taufel will make a final call on his future in a few weeks.
"I am still waiting for an annual performance appraisal with the ICC. Hopefully, that will give me a clearer picture," he said.
If Taufel, 37, turns his back on internationals, it would be a big blow to the game, which has seen several high-profile umpiring blunders in recent times.
He feels there is a lot that ICC can do to improve umpiring standards.
"There is lots of room for improvement with training and support at the ICC level," Taufel said.
"It's challenging. The difference between us and the players is we don't have a home series as such. That makes it harder. There are less opportunities for us."
