View source for Aleem Dar

{{short description|Pakistani cricket umpire}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = Aleem Dar
|    honorific-suffix = [[Pride of Performance|PP]]
|               image = David Warner shakes hands with umpire Chris Gaffaney and Aleem Dar (27090448599) (Aleem Dar cropped).jpg
|             caption = Dar umpiring during the 2017–18 Ashes
|            fullname = Aleem Sarwar Dar
|          birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|6|6|df=yes}}
|         birth_place = [[Jhang]], [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]
|             batting = Right-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm [[leg spin]]
|                role = [[Umpire (cricket)|Umpire]]
|             country = Pakistan
|               club1 = [[Pakistan Railways cricket team|Pakistan Railways]]
|               year1 = {{no wrap|1986–2009}}
|               club2 = [[Lahore City cricket team|Lahore City]]
|               year2 = {{no wrap|1988–1995}}
|               club3 = [[Allied Bank Limited cricket team|Allied Bank Limited]]
|               year3 = {{no wrap|1995}}
|               club4 = [[Gujranwala cricket team|Gujranwala]]
|               year4 = {{no wrap|1997–1998}}
|               type1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|       debutagainst1 = [[Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan cricket team|ADBP]]
|          debutdate1 = 8 February
|          debutyear1 = 1987
|           debutfor1 = Pakistan Railways
|        lastagainst1 = Bahawalpur
|           lastdate1 = 6 December
|           lastyear1 = 1997
|            lastfor1 = [[Gujranwala cricket team|Gujranwala]]
|               type2 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|       debutagainst2 = [[United Bank Limited cricket team|United Bank Limited]]
|          debutdate2 = 29 September
|          debutyear2 = 1986
|           debutfor2 = Pakistan Railways
|        lastagainst2 = [[Malaysia national cricket team|Malaysia]]
|           lastdate2 = 23 March
|           lastyear2 = 1998
|            lastfor2 = Gujranwala
|              umpire = true
|        testsumpired = 145
|      umptestdebutyr = 2003
|       umptestlastyr = 2023
|         odisumpired = 231
|       umpodidebutyr = 2000
|        umpodilastyr = 2023
|        t20isumpired = 72
|      umpt20idebutyr = 2009
|       umpt20ilastyr = 2023
|       wt20isumpired = 5
|     umpwt20idebutyr = 2009
|      umpwt20ilastyr = 2016
|             columns = 2
|             column1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|             column2 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches1 = 17
|            matches2 = 18
|               runs1 = 270
|               runs2 = 179
|            bat avg1 = 11.73
|            bat avg2 = 19.88
|           100s/50s1 = 0/0
|           100s/50s2 = 0/0
|          top score1 = 39
|          top score2 = 37
|         deliveries1 = 740
|         deliveries2 = 634
|            wickets1 = 11
|            wickets2 = 15
|           bowl avg1 = 34.36
|           bowl avg2 = 31.66
|            fivefor1 = 0
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 3/19
|       best bowling2 = 3/27
|  catches/stumpings1 = 5/–
|  catches/stumpings2 = 17/–
|              source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/player/39157.html ESPNcricinfo
|                date = 24 June 2023
}}
'''Aleem Dar''' [[Pride of Performance|PP]] ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], {{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|علیم ڈار}}}}; born 6 June 1968) is a Pakistani cricket umpire and former first-class cricketer. He is a former member of the [[Elite Panel of ICC Umpires]]. Dar won the [[David Shepherd Trophy]] three years in a row from 2009 to 2011, after being nominated twice in 2005 and 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/532182.html|title=Dar named best umpire for the third consecutive year|work=ESPNcricinfo|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Aleem Dar, [[Marais Erasmus]], [[Richard Kettleborough]], [[Kumar Dharmasena]] and [[Simon Taufel]] were the only umpires to have received the award from its inception until 2017. Before becoming an umpire, Dar played [[first-class cricket]] as a right-handed batsman and a leg-break bowler for [[Allied Bank Limited cricket team|Allied Bank]], [[Gujranwala cricket team|Gujranwala]], [[Lahore cricket team|Lahore]] and [[Pakistan Railways cricket team|Pakistan Railways]] teams. Dar is also a member of the [[Pakistan national cricket team#Selection committee|Men's National Selection Committee]] of the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]].He was educated at Government Islamia College, Covil Lines, Lahore. 

In December 2019, in the first match of the series between [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2019–20|Australia and New Zealand]], Aleem stood in his 129th Test match, breaking the record previously set by [[Steve Bucknor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1526681 |title=Aleem Dar set to break record for most Tests as umpire |publisher=International Cricket Council |access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> On 1 November 2020, in the second ODI [[Zimbabwean cricket team in Pakistan in 2020–21|between Pakistan and Zimbabwe]], Aleem stood in his 210th ODI match as an on-field umpire, surpassing South African [[Rudi Koertzen]]'s record of officiating in the most ODI matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30228199/aleem-dar-set-break-record-most-odis-field-umpire |title=Aleem Dar set to break record for most ODIs as on-field umpire |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Aleem Dar was born on June 6, 1968, in [[Jhang]], Pakistan. He is married to Noshaba. They have three children, sons Hassan and Ali, and a daughter, Jaweria, who died due to epilepsy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aleem Dar |url=https://www.pakpedia.pk/aleem-dar/#Aleem_Dar_Biography |website=pakpedia.pk |access-date=24 May 2022 |date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Umpiring ===
Aleem is best known as an international [[cricket umpire]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2014/media-releases/83319/icc-announces-match-officials-for-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015 |title=ICC announces match officials for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 |publisher=International Cricket Council |access-date=12 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330201852/http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2014/media-releases/83319/icc-announces-match-officials-for-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015 |archive-date=30 March 2015 }}</ref> He made his international umpiring debut in an [[One Day International|ODI]] between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at [[Jinnah Stadium (Gujranwala)|Gujranwala]] on 16 February 2000. In 2002, he became a member of [[International Panel of ICC Umpires]]. He was chosen to umpire at the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]].

In April 2004, he became the first Pakistani to be part of the [[Elite Panel of ICC Umpires]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/136525.html|title=Mallender and Aleem Dar to join the elite|date=6 February 2004|work=Cricinfo|access-date=18 March 2010}}</ref> He was nominated for the ICC Umpire of the year Award in 2005 and 2006, beaten on both occasions by the Australian [[Simon Taufel]]. On 17 October 2007, Aleem umpired in his 100th [[One Day International|ODI]], between India and Australia at Mumbai, making him the tenth umpire in the history of cricket to reach that landmark. He reached the landmark in a record time, taking just seven years, and became the first Pakistani to officiate in a century of [[One Day Internationals]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://stats.wisdenindia.com/Archive/Articles/7/7520.html |title=Aleem Dar becomes 10th umpire to stand in 100 ODIs |publisher=International Cricket Council|via=Wisden India|date=25 October 2007 |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402164331/http://stats.wisdenindia.com/Archive/Articles/7/7520.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>

Aleem has stood in a solitary India-Pakistan ODI match at Karachi 2006 and five [[Ashes series|Ashes]] Test matches. He was also one of the on-field umpires for the final of the [[2006 ICC Champions Trophy]], standing alongside [[Rudi Koertzen]]. He stood in the final of the [[2007 Cricket World Cup]] between Australia and Sri Lanka, along with [[Steve Bucknor]]. Dar was also selected to stand in the final of the [[2010 ICC World Twenty20]] between Australia and England .

In January 2005, Aleem and his colleague [[Steve Bucknor]], received death threats during a Test match between England and South Africa at Centurion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/145643.html|title=Umpires received death threats, reveals Bucknor|date=30 January 2005|work=Cricinfo|access-date=18 March 2010}}</ref> He was also involved in a controversy during the [[2007 Cricket World Cup]] final where he, along with fellow officials [[Steve Bucknor|Bucknor]], [[Rudi Koertzen|Koertzen]], [[Billy Bowden|Bowden]] and [[Jeff Crowe|Crowe]] incorrectly made Australia bowl three unnecessary overs in near darkness. Consequently, the ICC decided to suspend him, along with the other four officials, from duty for the next ICC event, which was the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20|2007 World Twenty20 Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/twenty20wc/content/story/299277.html|title= World Cup officials banned by ICC|work=ESPNcricinfo|date= 22 June 2007|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref>

Aleem proved his accuracy at the [[2011 Cricket World Cup]] when all the 15 [[Umpire Decision Review System]] appeals against him were struck down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/143702/dar-hails-the-use-of-technology/|title= Dar hails the use of technology|work=The Express Tribune|location=Karachi|date=6 April 2011|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sporteology.com/10-best-cricket-umpires-time-history/|title= 10 Best Cricket Umpires of All Time in History|work= Sporteology|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref>

He was selected as one of the twenty umpires to stand in matches during the [[2015 Cricket World Cup]].<ref name="auto"/> In April 2019, he was named as one of the sixteen umpires to stand in matches during the [[2019 Cricket World Cup]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1198051 |title=Match officials for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 announced |publisher=International Cricket Council |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1182149.html |title=Umpire Ian Gould to retire after World Cup |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref> The following month, in the second match of the [[2019 Ireland Tri-Nation Series]], he became the third umpire, and first from Pakistan, to officiate in 200 ODIs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/389812/pakistan-umpire-aleem-dar-to-officiate-in-his-200th-odi/ |title=Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar to officiate in his 200th ODI |work=Daily Times|date=6 May 2019 |location=Lahore|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>

On 16 March 2023, Dar stepped down from the elite panel of umpires after a 19-year career.<ref>{{cite news |title=Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza join ICC Elite Panel of Umpires as Aleem Dar steps down |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3111811 |access-date=17 March 2023 |work=International Cricket Council}}</ref> He will still umpire games if the PCB selects him to stand in games played in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aleem Dar ends 19-year old career as Elite Panel Umpire |url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/125944/aleem-dar-ends-19-year-old-career-as-elite-panel-umpire-cricbuzzcom |access-date=17 March 2023 |work=Cricbuzz}}</ref>

From 5–7 April 2023, he stood in his last test match as an Elite panel umpire, during the [[Irish cricket team in Bangladesh in 2022–23#Only Test|one-off test between Bangladesh and Ireland]]. At the end of the match, he also received a ''Guard of Honor'' from both teams and a memento was presented to him by [[Bangladesh Cricket Board]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=ডেস্ক |first1=খেলা |title=মিরপুরে 'গার্ড অব অনার' পেলেন আলিম দার |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/cricket/1z58rblt16 |access-date=7 April 2023 |work=Prothomalo |language=bn}}</ref>

He announced he will retire from umpiring at the end of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s 2024–25 domestic season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-10 |title=Aleem Dar to retire at the end of 2024-25 domestic season |url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/aleem-dar-to-retire-at-the-end-of-2024-25-domestic-season.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.pcb.com.pk |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Aleem Dar Cricket Academy ===
Aleem Dar Cricket Academy, ADCA is a training and coaching academy for hearing-impaired boys and girls. It is located in Lahore, Pakistan. It is equipped with a ground, gymnasium, jogging track and basketball court. Aleem Dar established the academy in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Services - Aleem Dar Cricket Academy |url=https://adca.pk/service |website=adca.pk |access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=World's finest umpire Aleem Dar celebrates his 53rd birthday today |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/768126/worlds-finest-umpire-aleem-dar-celebrates-his-53rd-birthday-today/ |website=Daily Times |access-date=24 May 2022 |date=6 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Dar's Delighto ===
In 2018, he started a restaurant named '''Dar's Delighto''' in PIA Cooperative Housing Society, Lahore.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan cricket umpire Aleem Dar offers free food for jobless at his Lahore joint |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/270320/pakistan-cricket-umpire-aleem-dar-offers-free-food-for-jobless-at-his.html |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=27 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aleem Dar |url=https://www.pakpedia.pk/aleem-dar/#Aleem_Dar_Biography |access-date=24 May 2022 |date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

===Post-retirement===
In October 2024, the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] named Dar as part of its [[Pakistan national cricket team#Selection committee|selection committee]].<ref>{{cite news |title=PCB restructures selection committee by picking Aleem Dar, Aaqib, Azhar |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/aleem-dar-aaqib-javed-azhar-ali-named-in-pakistan-s-selection-committee-1454841 |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=11 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Accolades==
After being nominated twice in 2005 and 2006, Aleem finally won the [[David Shepherd Trophy|Umpire of the Year]] award in October 2009, at the annual [[2009 ICC Awards|ICC awards]] ceremony in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff reporter |title=Aleem Dar wins ICC Umpire-of-the-Year Award |url=https://nation.com.pk/03-Oct-2009/aleem-dar-wins-icc-umpireoftheyear-award |website=The Nation |access-date=3 October 2009 |language=en |date=3 October 2009}}</ref> By claiming the award, Aleem ended [[Simon Taufel]]'s run of five successive awards. It was the first time that any umpire other than Taufel had picked up the accolade in the six years that the ceremony had taken place. In [[2010 ICC Awards|October 2010]], he won the award for a second straight year.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/480079.html Aleem Dar named Umpire of the Year] Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2010.</ref> In [[2011 ICC Awards|September 2011]], he was named best umpire for the third consecutive year.<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/532182.html Dar named best umpire for the third consecutive year] ''ESPNcricinfo''. Retrieved 13 September 2011.</ref> On 14 August 2010, the [[Government of Pakistan]] honoured him with the President's Award for [[Pride of Performance]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ICC Umpire Aleem Dar launches aid campaign for flood victims |url=http://www.geo.tv/8-15-2010/69991.htm |work=Geo News|location=Karachi |access-date=2011-04-09 |date=15 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821074402/http://geo.tv/8-15-2010/69991.htm |archive-date=21 August 2010 }}</ref>

He was honoured by [[International cricket council|ICC]] for officiating in 150 [[One Day International|ODIs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/192725-aleem-dar-honoured-by-icc-for-officiating-in-150-odis |title=Aleem Dar honoured by ICC for officiating in 150 ODIs |work=NDTV Sports |year=2012 |quote=Pakistan's Aleem Dar has been honoured by the International Cricket Council for becoming only the seventh umpire to officiate in 150 ODIs |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702163949/http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/192725-aleem-dar-honoured-by-icc-for-officiating-in-150-odis |archive-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Test cricket umpires]]
* [[List of One Day International cricket umpires]]
* [[List of Twenty20 International cricket umpires]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=39157}}

{{ICC Umpire of the Year}}
{{Pride of Performance for Sports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dar, Aleem}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Allied Bank Limited cricketers]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Kashmiri descent]]
[[Category:Pakistani Test cricket umpires]]
[[Category:Pakistani One Day International cricket umpires]]
[[Category:Pakistani Twenty20 International cricket umpires]]
[[Category:People from Jhang District]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:Lahore City cricketers]]
[[Category:Gujranwala cricketers]]
[[Category:Pakistan Railways cricketers]]
[[Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz]]
[[Category:Government Islamia College alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistani Muslims]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani people]]
[[Category:21st-century Pakistani sportsmen]]