Veteran umpire Aleem Dar has stepped down from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires to put a halt to his 19 years of illustrious career. The 54-year-old top notch umpire officiated in 435 matches overall (144 Tests and 222 ODIs and 69 T20Is) in men’s international cricket.
Aleem Dar in an official statement released by the ICC said that he enjoyed every bit of his journey as an international umpire.
“It has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have had the pleasure and honour of umpiring the world over and what I have achieved is something I did not even dream of when I started in the profession,” Dar said.
“Though I am still keen to continue as an international umpire, I felt it was now the right time, after 19 years on the road to step away from the Elite panel and provide an opportunity to someone from the International Panel. My message to umpires the world over is to work hard, maintain discipline and never stop learning,” The Pakistani umpire, who made his debut in 2000, further added.
Meanwhile, South Africa's Adrian Holdstock and Pakistan's Ahsan Raza have been added to the Elite Panel of Umpires. The inclusions were made by the ICC Elite Umpire Selection Panel - headed by Wasim Khan, the ICC General Manager, Cricket - during the annual review and selection process. The number of umpires on the panel has been increased to 12.
Dar was the first Pakistani to be included in the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires and he went on to feature in four World Cup finals – ODI World Cup 2007, ODI World Cup 2011, T20 World Cup 2010 and T20 World Cup 2012. Dar also won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year for three consecutive years – 2009, 2010 and 2011.
ICC Elite Panel of Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Michael Gough (England), Nitin Menon (India), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Rodney Tucker (Australia), Joel Wilson (West Indies), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa) and Ahsan Raza (Pakistan).
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