Aleem Dar to Retire After Champions One Day Cup: A Legendary Umpiring Career Comes to an End
The iconic Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar is preparing to retire from professional umpiring after the ongoing Champions One Day Cup 2024. After an illustrious career, Dar stepped down from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires following 19 remarkable years but continued to officiate in domestic and some international matches within Pakistan.
The current domestic season will mark the conclusion of his umpiring journey, after which he plans to focus entirely on his thalassemia hospital. This transition was announced by commentator Tariq Saeed during the Champions One Day Cup.
Dar has been a fixture in the Elite Panel since its inception in 2002, and he holds the record for officiating more Tests and ODIs than any other umpire, ranking second in T20Is, just behind fellow Pakistani Ahsan Raza. Over his career, he has officiated an impressive total of 448 international matches, which includes 145 Tests, 231 ODIs, and 72 T20Is.
Reflecting on his journey, Dar shared, “It has been a long journey, but I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have had the pleasure and honour of umpiring around the world, and what I have achieved is something I never even dreamed of when I started in this profession.”
As he prepares to step away from the field, how do you think his contributions have shaped the world of cricket? What will you remember most about Aleem Dar’s career?
