LAHORE, Pakistan: After supervising 41 T20 Internationals abroad, finally Pakistani Aleem Dar is blessed to stand as umpire in a T20 match in his own Country, which he says, is a memorable feeling.
The 49-year-old Aleem Dar is believed to be among most respected and distinguished Cricket Umpires but unfortunately he has never supervised a T20 match in Pakistan.
Aleem Dar will supervise the first T20 between World XI and Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on September 12 as part of Independence Cup along with Ahsan Raza as Field Umpire while Shozab Raza will be the Third Umpire.
“It is going to be a different event as it has its own significance and is going to be a memorable moment of my career”, Aleem Dar said while talking to the state-run news agency in Lahore on Monday.
Aleem Dar has been the `ICC umpire of the year’ thrice for his excellence in the field of umpiring.
“I have achieved a number of milestones in my umpiring career but standing in my own home ground will be something which I will always cherish in my memories as I have supervised a lot of T20 games abroad”, he said.
While welcoming the return of international cricket to Pakistan, Aleem Dar said he was delighted to see that the deadlock has been broken and international cricket is being played in the country.
“It is a historic moment that ICC chosen World XI having noted players from seven cricket playing countries is playing in Pakistan and definitely it is going to have a long lasting impact on country’s cricket”, he said.
Aleem Dar said the credit to bring back international cricket to Pakistan goes to the games ruling body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as collective efforts were made by these bodies to help address the cause of international cricket in Pakistan.
Aleem said the tour of World XI will be a defining moment in Pakistan cricket and it will give a tremendous boost to PCB efforts for the overall development of the game.
