Aleem Dar set to break record for most ODIs as Umpire

Aleem Dar is all set to break the record of Umpire Rudi Koertzen’s for standing in most ODI when he will take on the field in the second match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe on Sunday. It will be his 210th ODI as Umpire. He made his debut as an umpire in Pakistan when he officiated his first match against Srilanka in Gujranwala which is his hometown in Feburary 2000

Congratulations @AleemDarReal bhai 👍🏻🇵🇰 proud moment for Pakistan cricket @TheRealPCB https://t.co/OpWSdSw7Go

— Faisal Iqbal🇵🇰🏏فیصل اقبال (@FaisalIqbalCric) October 30, 2020

This record is certainly special for him as it is coming after he became the most experienced Test Umpire after surpassing his idol Steve Bucknor which made him top the list of Test Umpire. Aleem Dar has officiated in 132 Test matches till now and is currently second in the list of T20Is, behind fellow Pakistani umpire Ahsan Raza, with 46 T20Is. He has officiated in 387 international matches so far which is the most number by any umpire.
“It is a matter of great honour for me to be on the top of the list of both Tests and ODIs for umpires,” Aleem Dar told ICC website. “When I had started out in the profession, I had never imagined I would get this far. I can only say that I have enjoyed every moment on the field and learning has been an ongoing process all this while.”He added.

He thanked ICC and PCB for believing in his ability in all these years.

“I thank my family for standing by me over the years and am grateful to the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board for backing me and providing me with all the opportunities. I am also thankful to all my colleague match officials for their help and support,” he said

Once Dar is about to achieve this feat he received congratulatory message from ICC Senior Umpire Manager Adam Grifith.

“Aleem has been a very consistent umpire over the years, and this is reflected in his 16 years on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.We congratulate Aleem on the milestone and wish him all the best for the upcoming game and series. We are sure many aspiring match officials look up to Aleem, and he will continue to inspire the next generation,” He added.

Before starting his stint as umpire he played a first class cricket as right handed batsman and a leg break bowler for three teams who were Allied Bank, Gujranwala and Pakistan Railways. In April 2004 he became the first Pakistani who was included in ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. He was nominated on two occasion as ICC Umpire of the year Award beaten on both occasions by the Australian Simon Taufel. In 2019 he was named as one of the sixteen umpires to stand in matches during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.