Tag: Aleem Dar

  • Aleem Dar to retire after domestic season 2024-25

    Aleem Dar to retire after domestic season 2024-25

    World record-winning Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has announced his retirement at the end of the 2024-25 domestic season.

    Aleem Dar’s illustrious and distinguished career spans over a quarter of a century. Three-time winner of the David Shepherd Trophy for International Cricket Council (ICC) umpire of the Year (2011-2009), seen as a true gentleman on and off the field.

    On his decision to retire, Aleem Dar said, “Umpiring has been my life for almost 25 years, and I have had the privilege of umpiring some of the most memorable matches involving the greatest players of this generation. Throughout my career, I have strived to uphold the highest standards of sports, and it has been an honour to work with some of the best match officials in the world, but all great journeys eventually come to an end, and now the time has come. That I should focus fully on my social and charity work.”

    “My hospital project and other initiatives are very close to my heart, and they need my full dedication and attention. Having achieved almost everything I aspired to in umpiring with the unwavering support of my colleagues, I also feel the need to step aside and allow budding umpires to emerge and shine, says Aleem Dar. This is the right time to give,” he added.

    He said, “I hope he will get similar opportunities to make his mark on the great game of cricket and represent Pakistan with pride. Committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of match officials, I will always be available to guide those making a career in this great field.”

    He has played 17 first-class and 18 List A matches between 1986 and 1998.

    He made his first-class umpiring debut during the 1998 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, from 2003 to 2023, he served on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, where he demonstrated his managerial skills, understanding of game situations, calm demeanour and Gained a global reputation for excellent decision-making.

    He is currently part of the PCB’s elite panel and is one of the four Pakistani umpires on the ICC’s international panel.

    Dar has so far umpired a record 145 Tests, 231 One Day Internationals, 72 T20 Internationals, 5 Women’s T20 Internationals, 181 First Class matches, and 282 List A matches.

  • Aleem Dar becomes world’s first umpire to hold THIS record

    Aleem Dar becomes world’s first umpire to hold THIS record

    Pakistan’s Aleem Dar has become the world’s first umpire to officiate for 25 consecutive years in a record 551 matches.

    Born on June 6, 1968 in Gujranwala, Aleem Sarwar Dar made his debut as an umpire on February 16, 2000 in the ODI match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Gujranwala. He soon found a place in the International Cricket Council (ICC) International Panel, from there becoming part of the Elite Panel.

    On October 21, 2003, he supervised the Test match between England and Bangladesh in Dhaka. On May 7, 2009, he started umpiring in T20 between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai Stadium.

    Dar, who has been awarded the best umpire in the world three times, has umpired in 231 ODI matches, 145 Test matches and 70 T20 matches.

    He received the Pride of Performance award in 2010 and the star award from the Government of Pakistan in 2013. He also has the honor of umpiring in five T20 World Cups. Aleem Dar oversaw the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009, and was present in the finals of the ODI World Cup in 2007 and 2011. The final of Women’s World Cup in 2009 is also to his credit.

    He is also among the top three umpires who have officiated in 100 Test matches at the youngest age. Umpiring in the World Cup final at the youngest age is also his record. A member of the ICC Elite Panel for 19 consecutive years, Aleem Dar was nominated for the World’s Best Umpires six times.

    In 2008, he was named the best Asian umpire by the Asian Cricket Council.

    Aleem Dar received the World’s Best Umpire Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by the International Cricket Council. Aleem Dar was part of the field umpiring panel along with Ahs Raza in the rain-affected Pakistan-New Zealand T20I on Thursday. When he took to the field, he had a total of 25 years and 2 months in umpiring at that time.

  • PAK vs ENG: Saud Shakeel’s dismissal sparks debate on social media

    PAK vs ENG: Saud Shakeel’s dismissal sparks debate on social media

    The middle-order batter Saud Shakeel was given out during a vital stage of the second Test match against England, sparking yet another controversy on social media.

    The left-hander nicked Mark Wood’s delivery on the leg-side, which was saved by wicket-keeper Ollie Pope with a fully extended dive. He was just six runs away from a magnificent century.

    Field umpires also awarded Saud Shakeel the benefit of the doubt since it was evident from the action replay that the ball impacted the ground. But the TV Umpire was asked to look into the situation.

    The third empire gave him out despite the review indicating that the ball struck the ground first, shocking spectators and the Pakistan team.

    Speaking to the media after the match, Babar revealed that everyone, including him, in the dressing room felt the ball had touched the ground.

    “The Shakeel dismissal cost us,” he said. “It looked to us as if the ball had touched the ground. As a professional, you have to respect the umpire’s decision, but we felt the ball had been grounded.”

    Former England captain Michael Vaughan also questioned the third umpire’s decision on his Twitter account, saying “Thought I saw a little bit of the ball hitting the ground with that last dismissal. What another great Test match.”

    ESPNcricinfo also questioned the decision and asked on its official Twitter account, “Was that a clean catch by Pope?”

    A number of fans believe that it was a “clear not out” and the issue has sparked plenty of debate on social media.

  • Video of umpire Aleem Dar stopping Dahani’s celebration goes viral

    Video of umpire Aleem Dar stopping Dahani’s celebration goes viral

    A video of umpire Aleem Dar failing to stop Multan Sultans’ fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani from celebrating a wicket against Quetta Gladiators during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 fixture in Lahore is viral.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the right-arm pacer bagged two wickets in their one-sided fixture.

    The video sees Shahnawaz Dahani dismissing Naseem Shah. Just when he took off, Aleem Dar came in front of the pacer to stop him.

    However, Aleem’s efforts went in vain and he was seen smiling at the end.

    Netizens came up with some hilarious comments about the funny moment.

    While sharing his thoughts on Twitter, Dahani wrote: “Thinking of giving a try for 400 meters in Paris @Olympics 2024. @Balochbolt what do you say??”

    https://twitter.com/ShahnawazDahani/status/1494926361336725505?s=20&t=6IDXMXnuIQ7KC6W4fCV9kQ

    Dahani bagged two wickets and conceded 22 runs from his three overs. All of his dismissals were clean bowled.

    He is at sixth position in the list of highest wicket-takers in this year’s competition with 12 breakthroughs from eight games at a bowling average of 22.00.

    Meanwhile, Multan beat Quetta Gladiators by 117 runs later in the game.

  • Aleem Dar’s celebration after his decision remains unchanged despite DRS call goes viral

    Aleem Dar’s celebration after his decision remains unchanged despite DRS call goes viral

    Audiences have often witnessed batsmen celebrating a failed DRS call against them after surviving a loud shout, or even the fielding side. But during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 match between Karachi Kings (KK) and Islamabad United (IU) on February 24, it was the umpire who surprised everyone with a mini celebration.

    Pakistan’s renowned umpire Aleem Dar was delighted after his call for not-out remained unchanged despite it being referred to the third umpire. It was the first delivery of the last over in United’s innings when they scored the remaining one run to chase down 197 runs.

    Kings’ bowler Waqas Maqsood bowled a yorker as batsman Asif Ali tried to get the final run for the victory. The game was done and dusted right there but Karachi decided to go for a DRS thinking they might get the batsman out LBW.

    Replay showed there was a thick inside edge and also the ball had hit the boot well outside off; ruling out the possibility of a dismissal. The on-field umpire Dar was happy after confirmation from the third umpire and celebrated by pumping his fist before signalling the failed DRS. It was a win for Islamabad by 5 wickets.

    Later netizens picked up on the celebration and expressed happiness over Dar’s little jubilation move.

    https://twitter.com/taimoorze/status/1364635419204198404?s=20

    Australian comedian Dennis put forward a hilarious suggestion.

    https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1364669663691476992?s=20

    ‘Pawri Girl’ Dananeer also loved it, like thousands of others.

    A netizen jokingly suggested the move was Dar’s way of showing his support for Islamabad United.

    Sharing his own video on Twitter, the world famous umpire wrote: “Enjoy life. Life is very small.”

    https://twitter.com/UmpireAleemDar_/status/1364840460418752512?s=20
  • Aleem Dar breaks world record of umpiring in most Tests

    Aleem Dar breaks world record of umpiring in most Tests

    Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has surpassed Steve Bucknor’s record for umpiring in most number of Test matches as he walked on to the field to officiate his 129th Test match between Australia and New Zealand at Perth, a private news outlet has reported.

    According to the details, the 51-year-old, who took up umpiring after a decade of playing first class cricket in Pakistan is standing in his 129th Test match as on-field umpire breaking Bucknor’s record of umpiring 128 test matches.

    Dar first umpired in a Test match in Bangladesh when England toured the country in 2003 and he also needs only two more ODIs to break former South African umpire, Rudi Koertzen’s record of umpiring in 209 ODI matches.

    Dar made his international debut in 2000 in a home ODI against Sri Lanka and has also officiated 46 T20Is in his career which spans over 2 decades.

    Talking to the ICC before the match, Dar said, “This is one milestone I had never thought of when I began my umpiring career. It is a truly amazing feeling and a high point of my life when I take the field here in Australia”.

    “Steve Bucknor was my idol and it is only sinking in now that I will have officiated in more Test matches than him”, Dar added.