After a 19-year tenure, Aleem Dar stepped down from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires on Thursday, March 16. The 54-year-old had a remarkable career spanning 435 men’s international games, including the final matches of the 2007, 2010 and 2012 T20 World Cup tournaments and the 2011 50-over World Cup.
Aleem Dar, born in Pakistan, started his umpiring career with an ODI match in 2000. Since then, he has officiated 222 ODIs, 144 Test matches, and 69 T20Is, including five ODI World Cups and seven T20 World Cups. To honor his achievements in the field, Aleem Dar has been awarded the prestigious David Shephard Trophy three times consecutively – in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
I didn’t even dream of what I have achieved – Aleem Dar
“It has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have had the pleasure and honor of umpiring the world over and what I have achieved is something I did not even dream of when I started in the profession.”
Aleem Dar expressed his gratitude for umpiring worldwide during his 19-year-long career
“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. I look forward to continuing to serve the game as an umpire.”
The Elite Panel of Umpires has now been expanded to 12 members with the addition of Ahsan Raza from Pakistan and Adrian Holdstock from South Africa. India’s Nitin Menon is the sole representative on the panel.