Aleem Dar

Aleem Dar is a Pakistani cricket umpire and former first-class cricketer. He served as a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires for many years. Currently, he serves on the Men's National Selection Committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Early life and education

Aleem Dar was born on 6 June 1968 in Jhang, Pakistan. He attended Government Islamia College, Civil Lines, Lahore for his education. Before he transitioned into officiating, he played first-class cricket as a right-handed batsman and a leg-break bowler. He represented the Allied Bank, Gujranwala, Lahore and Pakistan Railways teams during his playing career.

Career

Dar made his international umpiring debut on 16 February 2000, during an ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Gujranwala. He joined the International Panel of ICC Umpires in 2002 and was selected to umpire at the 2003 Cricket World Cup. In April 2004, he became the first Pakistani to join the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires. He reached his 100th ODI on 17 October 2007, in a match between India and Australia at Mumbai. This achievement made him the tenth umpire in history to reach that milestone—and the first Pakistani to do so.

He stood in several major tournament finals throughout his career. These included the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy final, the 2007 Cricket World Cup final, and the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 final. While officiating at the 2007 Cricket World Cup, he was involved in a controversy regarding unnecessary overs being bowled by Australia. This incident led the ICC to suspend him from the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship. He later demonstrated his precision during the 2011 Cricket World Cup when all 15 Umpire Decision Review System appeals against him were rejected.

Dar broke several significant officiating records. In December 2019, he stood in his 129th Test match, which surpassed the record held by Steve Bucknor. On 1 November 2020, he officiated in his 210th ODI during a match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. This performance allowed him to overtake Rudi Koertzen for the most ODI matches officiated. He stepped down from the elite panel on 16 March 2023, after a career spanning 19 years. His final match as an Elite panel umpire took place from 5–7 April 2023 during a Test between Bangladesh and Ireland.

Beyond cricket officiating, Dar has established various ventures. He founded the Aleem Dar Cricket Academy in 2013 to provide coaching for hearing-impaired boys and girls in Lahore. This facility includes a gymnasium, a jogging track and a basketball court. In 2018, he also opened a restaurant called Dar's Delighto in the PIA Cooperative Housing Society in Lahore.

Personal life

Aleem Dar is married to Noshaba. The couple has three children, consisting of two sons named Hassan and Ali. They also had a daughter, Jaweria, who died due to epilepsy.

Awards and recognition

Dar achieved significant success at the ICC awards ceremonies. He won the David Shepherd Trophy for three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011. This streak ended the five-year winning run of Simon Taufel. The ICC also honored him for officiating in 150 ODIs.

The Government of Pakistan recognized his contributions to the sport on 14 August 2010. On that date, he received the President's Award for Pride of Performance. He remains a highly respected figure in international cricket.