ISLAMABAD: Renowned Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar received a guard of honour during his last Test match as an ICC Elite Panel umpire between Bangladesh and Ireland in Mirpur on Friday. Bangladesh won the test match on the final day by seven wickets after successfully chasing down a minimum target of 138 runs.
Aleem Dar’s exit from the ICC elite panel after 19 years was confirmed by the ICC on March 16 in a press release. He made his international cricket debut in 2000 and quickly rose through the ranks, with his sound decisions in matches earning him acclaim from players and fans alike.
Appointed to the ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2002, Aleem Dar was officiated at the 2003 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa. He continued his rise as he was appointed as a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in 2004, becoming the first Pakistani to be appointed to the Elite Panel.
Aleem Dar gets Guard Of Honour for officiating in his final Test match. pic.twitter.com/9TqRy73GvA
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 7, 2023
Throughout his illustrious career, Dar officiated a total of 438 international matches. He was also voted ICC Umpire of the Year for three consecutive years between 2009 and 2011. ICC CEO Geoff Allardice praised Dar’s contributions, saying, “Aleem’s contribution to international cricket and to the ICC has been truly remarkable.
Aleem Dar’s consistent performance
Consistently top performances over such a long period saw him enjoy great respect across all involved in international cricket. I wish Aleem Dar all the best for the future, and I am sure his involvement in the game will continue for many years to come.”
As Aleem Dar steps down from the ICC Elite Panel of umpires, time to congratulate him on an excellent career. The increasing scrutiny these days sometimes comes in the way of acknowledging how good the top umpires are and, over a long career, Aleem was very good.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 16, 2023
Reflecting on his journey as an umpire, Aleem Dar said, “It has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of this journey. I have had the honour and pleasure of umpiring worldwide, and what I have achieved is something I did not even dream of when I started in the profession.”
Although Aleem Dar is still keen to continue as an international umpire, he felt that it was the right time to step away from the Elite panel and offer an opportunity to someone from the International Panel.
His message to umpires around the world is to work hard, maintain discipline, and never stop learning.
Dar’s departure from the Elite Panel marks the end of an era for international cricket, as he leaves behind a legacy of consistency and excellence in officiating.
