LAHORE 17 Mar (Online): Pakistan\u2019s veteran Aleem Dar stepped down on Thursday from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires after officiating in a record number of international cricket matches during his distinguished career.
\nThe 58-year-old stood in 144 Tests and 222 ODIs (both world records) in addition to 69 T20 Internationals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe veteran umpire Aleem Dar has stepped down after 19 years on the Elite Panel, standing in a record 435 men\u2019s international matches,\u201d the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a press release.<\/p>\n
Aleem\u2019s first international match as an Elite Panel umpire was in 2002 and a year later he stood in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Aleem, who took up umpiring after playing first-class cricket in Pakistan, said he was honoured to have officiated international matches.
\n\u201cIt has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of it,\u201d Aleem was quoted in the ICC release.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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<\/p>\n
ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice praised Aleem\u2019s contribution to the sport.<\/p>\n
\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,\u201d said Allardice.<\/p>\n
The ICC said South Africa\u2019s Adrian Holdstock and Pakistan\u2019s Ahsan Raza have been added to the Elite Panel. Ahsan has replaced Aleem.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Najam Sethi congratulated Ahsan on his promotion to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and has also thanked Aleem for his services.<\/p>\n
Ahsan, 48, has been a member of the ICC International Panel of Umpires since 2010 and is the first to reach the 50 T20 Internationals mark as an umpire. Overall, he has umpired in 72 T20Is, along with seven Tests and 41 ODIs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a moment of great pride and joy for the whole nation that Ahsan Raza has become the third Pakistan umpire to be appointed to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. I want to congratulate Ahsan on this wonderful achievement and I am sure he will continue to work hard with dedication and passion to enha\u00acnce the image and profile of this noble profession,\u201d Sethi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also want to congratulate Aleem on his successful career as an elite panelist. He was the first Pakistani to become a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, and has established himself as one of the most respected and highly-qualified ump\u00acires in the business.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE 17 Mar (Online): Pakistan\u2019s veteran Aleem Dar stepped down on Thursday from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires after officiating in a record number of international cricket matches during his distinguished career. The 58-year-old stood in 144 Tests and 222 ODIs (both world records) […]<\/p>\n
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