Elite panellist umpire, Aleem Dar, is all set to officiate in his first Test-match at his home soil, Pakistan, and the former was enchanted by it and said that it would be an emotional moment for him.
After announcing the 20 men squad for the Test series against South Africa, Pakistan cricket Board (PCB), on Saturday on behalf of International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the match officials appointments for the two-match Test series between Pakistan and South Africa which is all set to kick-start from 26th January.
As per the ICC's interim playing regulations, the requirement to appoint third country officials has temporarily been suspended for all international formats owing to the current logistical challenges with international travel.
The ICC, however, continues to appoint locally based match officials from the ICC Elite Panel of Match Officials and the ICC International Panel of Match Officials.
Aleem Dar will be on-field umpire along with Ahsan Raza while Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz will be the third and fourth umpires, respectively. The playing control team will be led by Mohammad Javed Malik, who will act as match-referee for both the Tests.
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For the three-match T20I series, Javed Malik will continue to be the match referee, while Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for the first match with Shozab Raza in the TV umpire's box and Asif Yaqoob as the fourth umpire.
Shozab Raza and Asif Yaqoob will stand in the second T20I with Ahsan Raza and Rashid Riaz as third and fourth umpires, respectively, while Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz will be the on-field umpires for the third T20I with Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza as third and fourth umpires, respectively.
While commenting on the appointment elite panelist, Aleem Dar, was delighted and said that it will definitely be an emotional for him to umpire Test involving Pakistan.
“It will definitely be an emotional moment for me to umpire in a Test involving Pakistan. It has been nearly a 17-year and 132-Test wait, but it's about to be over. Like the players, the match officials also want to umpire in matches on home ground, something we achieve in white-ball cricket, but Test cricket remains the pinnacle format and I am delighted that I will be standing in the two Tests between two excellent sides." said Aleem Dar.
Aleem Dar has umpired in a record 132 Tests since making his debut in 2003 in Dhaka, while Ahsan Raza is a part of the international panel and has umpired in 37 ODIs and 57 T20Is till date. Javed Malik, a former first-class cricketer and a member of the ICC's international panel, has refereed in 10 ODIs and six T20Is.
(ANI inputs)
