Islamabad
\nPakisatni cricketer and umpire Aleem Sarwar Dar has decided to step down from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires after 19 years.
\n\u201cDar has had a long and celebrated career as an international umpire. He made his international debut in 2000 and quickly rose through the ranks, with his sound decisions in matches earning him acclaim from the players and fans,\u201d the ICC said in an official statement on Thursday.
\nDar has officiated in 435 men\u2019s international matches.
\nTalking about Dar\u2019s expansive career, ICC said: \u201cDar was appointed to the ICC International Panel of Umpires in 2002 and officiated at the 2003 ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Dar continued his rise as he was appointed as a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in 2004. He was the first Pakistani to be appointed to the Elite Panel\u201d.
\nLauding Dar\u2019s contributions, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: \u201cAleem\u2019s contribution to international cricket and to the ICC has been truly remarkable. Consistently elite performances over such a long period saw him enjoy enormous respect across all involved in international cricket. I wish Aleem all the best for the future and I am sure his involvement in the game will continue for many years to come.\u201d
\nDar also shed light on his journey as an umpire which included being voted for the ICC Umpire of the Year for three consecutive years between 2009 and 2011
\n\u201cIt 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,\u201d Dar said.
\n\u201cThough 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,\u201d he added.
\nAhsan Raza joins elite panel
\nAt the same time, Pakistan\u2019s Ahsan Raza was included in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
\nRaza has stood in seven Tests, 41 ODIs and 48 T20Is over the course of his umpiring career, so far.
\n\u201cSouth Africa\u2019s Adrian Holdstock and Pakistan\u2019s Ahsan Raza have been added to the ICC\u2019s Elite Panel of Umpires for 2023-24,\u201d the ICC said.
\n\u201cThe addition of Holdstock and Raza sees the number of umpires in the panel rise up to 12 from 11.
\nThe additions were overseen by the ICC Elite Umpire selection panel, headed by ICC General Manager \u2014 Cricket, Wasim Khan. Holdstock has officiated in five Tests, 42 ODIs and 48 T20Is. Raza has stood in seven Tests, 41 ODIs and 48 T20Is.<\/p>\n
The other members of the panel include 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).<\/p>\n
There is no change in the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad Pakisatni cricketer and umpire Aleem Sarwar Dar has decided to step down from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires after 19 years. \u201cDar has had a long and celebrated career as an international umpire. He made his international debut in 2000 and quickly rose through the ranks, with his sound decisions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-319995","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n