Aleem Dar Steps Down From ICC’s Elite Panel Of Umpires To End 19-year-old Career, Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza Added To The Panel

By Sports Watch On Mar 16, 2023

On Thursday, March 16, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the 54-year-old Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar has stepped down from ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires to end his long and celebrated 19-year-old career as an international umpire.

Aleem Dar made his international debut as an umpire in the year 2000 and he quickly rose through the ranks. Overall, he officiated a record 435 matches (144 Tests and 222 ODIs and 69 T20Is) in men’s international cricket.

Aleem Dar, who was the first Pakistani to be included in the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, officiated 4 World Cup finals – ODI World Cup 2007 and ODI World Cup 2011, T20 World Cup 2010 and T20 World Cup 2012. Aleem Dar also won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year for three consecutive years – 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In an official statement released by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Aleem Dar said that he enjoyed every bit of his journey as an international umpire.

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“It 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,” he said in a statement released by the ICC.

“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.”

Aleem Dar’s contribution to international cricket and to the ICC has been truly remarkable – ICC CEO Geoff Allardice

In an official statement issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the ICC CEO Geoff Allardice showered praise on the veteran umpire Aleem Dar for his remarkable contributions.

“Aleem’s 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,” he said.

With Aleem Dar stepping down from ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has added Adrian Holdstock from South Africa and Ahsan Raza from Pakistan to the Panel for 2023-24.

With the inclusion of Holdstock and Raza, the number of umpires in the panel has increased from 11 to 12. Adrian Holdstock has the experience of officiating in 5 Tests, 42 ODIs and 48 T20Is while Ahsan Raza has officiated in 7 Tests, 41 ODIs and 72 T20Is.

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