Aleem Dar, a Pakistani umpire, officially resigned from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires on Friday, after serving for 19 years. Following the one-off match between Bangladesh and Ireland, players and match officials gave him a Guard of Honor.
Bangladesh won the game by seven wickets, and players from both teams stood on either side to honor Dar. He has officiated more ODIs and Tests than any other umpire and has been a member of the Elite Panel since 2002.
Moreover, Dar holds the record for officiating 436 international matches, including four World Cups. The ICC confirmed his departure from the panel in a press release on 16th March 2023. The release also stated that Dar was the first Pakistani to be appointed to the Elite Panel and had been a member since 2004.
Geoff Allardice, the CEO of ICC, praised Dar for his outstanding contribution to international cricket and said that his performances over a long period had earned him enormous respect across the cricketing world. He wished Dar all the best for his future, confident that his involvement in the game would continue for many years.
In his statement, Dar expressed his gratitude for his long journey as part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and said that he had enjoyed every bit of it. He added that he was still keen to continue as an international umpire, but after 19 years on the road, he felt it was the right time to step away from the Elite panel and provide an opportunity to someone from the International Panel. He also advised umpires worldwide to work hard, maintain discipline, and never stop learning.
